Author: FairTest

Key Assessment and Accountability IssuesFacing the ESEA Reauthorization Conference Committee Overall, FairTest supports the Senate’s bill to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), regarding assessment and accountability, though the House bill contains stronger provisions on some important points. Both bills include several steps toward reversing the damage caused by No Child Left Behind […]

for further information: Bob Schaeffer (239) 395-6773 cell (239) 699-0468 for immediate release Monday, July 27, 2015 GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY GOES TEST-OPTIONAL; MOVEMENT OF SCHOOLS TO DE-EMPHASIZE ACT/SAT ACCELERATES WITH 40 DROPPING ACT/SAT REQUIREMENTS IN PAST TWO YEARS Today’s announcement by George Washington University that it will no longer require most applicants to submit ACT […]

July 15, 2015 Dear Senator, FairTest stands with many grassroots civil rights, parent, educator, and community groups in opposition to continuing the harmful consequences imposed by No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Therefore, we urge you to vote NO on Amendment #2241 (Murphy, et al.) to the Every Child Achieves Act reauthorization of ESEA/NCLB. This amendment […]

for further information: Bob Schaeffer (239) 395-6773 cell (239) 699-0468 for immediate release, Tuesday, June 23, 2015 CONTROVERSIAL SAT SCORES FROM TIMING ERROR ADMINISTRATIONSCHEDULED FOR RELEASE EARLY THURSDAY MORNING, JUNE 25;FAIRTEST CALLS ON COLLEGE BOARD FOR FREE, EARLY-SUMMER RETEST,SEEKS REBATES FOR EXAM-TAKERS’ EXPERIENCING DISRUPTION Nearly half a million SAT takers, whose June 6 exams were […]

Karen Lewis, president of the Chicago Teachers Union, delivered a thoughtful and passionate talk to FairTest and our guests on receiving her Hero in Education award on June 4. She traces the links between testing and the social inequalities it perpetuates. View the 5-minute video here. https://youtu.be/mL6F7JCzOQ4 Karen asked people to support FairTest and our […]

for further information:Bob Schaeffer (239) 395-6773 cell (239) 699-0468 for immediate release, Wednesday, April 29, 2015 TEST-OPTIONAL ADMISSIONS GROWTH SURGE;NEW SURVEY SHOWS RECORD NUMBER OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIESDROPPED ACT/SAT EXAM SCORE REQUIREMENTS IN PAST YEAR;LIST NOW INCLUDES 850 BACHELOR-DEGREE GRANTING SCHOOLS As this weekend’s final SAT of the academic year draws near, a new survey […]

for further information: Bob Schaeffer (239) 395-6773 cell (239) 699-0468 for immediate release, Monday, April 27, 2015 COMPUTER-ADMINISTERED SCHOOL EXAMS CRASHEDIN NINE STATES IN APRIL, 2015;WIDESPREAD TECHNICAL, SECURITY PROBLEMS DEMONSTRATEFAILURE OF POLITICALLY MANDATED TESTING New, computer-delivered, school testing programs have been plagued by malfunctions across the nation. So far in April, exam delivery collapsed in […]

April 7, 2015 Robert Schaeffer is public education director of the National Center for Fair & Open Testing (Fair Test). He wrote this piece for the Atlanta Journal Constitution. By Robert Schaeffer The sad story of educators caught manipulating standardized exam scores has focused attention on one type of “fallout” from the testing explosion that […]

PLEASE JOIN FairTest IN HONORING Karen Lewis and Leon Botstein PRESENTATION OF THE DEBORAH W. MEIER HEROES IN EDUCATION AWARD Thursday, June 4, 2015, 6 – 8:30 PM Julia Richman Education Complex, 317 East 67th Street, New York, NY Beverages and hors d’oeuvres will be served Karen G.J. Lewis is President of the Chicago Teachers […]

Overhaul ESEA/NCLB: Less Testing More Learning What: Call your U.S. Senators and join the Twitter storm.If we raise our voices together, we can persuade the Senate Education Committee to cut back testing requirements as it debates renewal of Elementary and Secondary Education Act/No Child Left Behind. When: April 8, 2015 Who: Testing Resistance and Reform […]