Author: FairTest

FairTest comments on US Education Department’s “Race to the Top Assessment Program” hearing in Boston on Nov. 12. – See oral remarks in text or PDF. – See detailed comments (including oral remarks) in PDF. Attachment Size testimony nov 12 – rttt assessment- web.pdf 41.03 KB Oral Testimony November 12 2009 -web.pdf 16.02 KB

for further information: Bob Schaeffer (239) 395-6773 for use with annual SAT scores release – 11:00am, Tuesday, August 25, 2009 GROWING RACIAL, INCOME AND GENDER GAPS ON SAT INDICATE FAILURE OF TEST-DRIVEN “SCHOOL REFORM” Test-driven K-12 “school reforms,” mandated by the federal “No Child Left Behind” law and high-stakes, state examination programs are failing to […]

for further information: Bob Schaeffer: (239) 395-6773 for use with annual ACT score release — 12:01am Wednesday, August 19, 2009 STAGNANT ACT SCORES REFLECT FAILURE OF “NO CHILD” LAW; MOVE TO TEST-OPTIONAL COLLEGE ADMISSIONS RECOGNIZES EXAM-DRIVEN “REFORM” DOES NOT BOOST UNDERGRAD READINESS Stagnant ACT college admissions scores indicate that the federal “No Child Left Behind […]

for immediate release, Monday, August 17, 2009 WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN THIS MONTH’S ACT & SAT SCORE REPORTS Average ACT scores for the high school class of 2009 are scheduled to be released on Wednesday, August 19. Historically, SAT scores for “College Bound Seniors” become available one week later. This year’s data will likely […]

TO AVOID SLIPPING BACKWARDS ON EDUCATION REFORM, DRAFT “RACE TO THE TOP” GUIDELINES MUST BE REVISED During his campaign for the Presidency, Barack Obama said, “We should not be forced to spend the academic year preparing students to fill in bubbles on standardized tests.” Candidate Obama added that the nation needs to use “a broader […]

FairTest here elaborates on its general comments by responding in detail to the draft Guidelines for states to apply for “Race to the Top” (RTTT) funds. Attachment Size FT_Detailed_Comments_RTTT_Draft_Guidelines.pdf 89.81 KB

A Critical Analysis of the Citizen’s Commission on Civil Rights report, National Teachers Unions and the Struggle Over School Reform by Monty Neill, FairTest July 14, 2009 The Citizens’ Commission on Civil Rights (CCCR) recently released a report attacking the role of unions in “education reform.” National Teachers Unions and the Struggle Over School Reform […]

The following principles are drawn from the report of the Expert Panel on Assessment of the Forum on Educational Accountability and represent a launching point from which conference discussions on what is necessary to construct high-quality assessment and accountability systems may begin. 1. Ensure all students have equitable and adequate access to the resources needed […]

These remarks were delivered by Monty Neill, Ed.D., Interim Executive Director of FairTest, as part of a panel discussion following a keynote presentation by Dr. James Pellegrino. Thank you. I am very happy to be with you today, and I am looking forward to a very interesting, challenging and productive conference. I’d like to make […]

Materials from FairTest-National Education Association State Assessment Reform Conference Transforming State Assessment Systems: Conference Materials In May 2009, FairTest and the National Education Association held a conference on transforming state assessment systems. Materials from this conference include: – Potential Principles for Building High-Quality State Assessment Systems (a starting point for conference discussions) – “Assessment as […]