Teacher test boycotts, student-led opt-out campaigns, parent-organized petition drives, school administrators’ lobbying efforts, and elected officials’ letters to DC policymakers all are calling for a major cutback in high-stakes testing and the implementation of assessment reform alternatives. Just look at the breadth of the movement reported in stories and opinion columns from just the past week. No wonder even the Texas legislature, home of standardized exam overkill, and Michelle Rhee, the symbol of the test-and-punish movement, are beginning to pay attention!
Has Testing Reached a Tipping Point?
http://smartblogs.com/education/2013/01/30/has-testing-reached-tipping-point/USA Today on Growing National Resistance
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/01/31/seattle-teachers-boycott-standardized-tests/1878475/Seattle Teachers Lead Day of Action Against Standardized Tests
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/02/05-3
New Wave of Teacher Unionism Focuses on Standardized Testing
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dennis-van-roekel/a-new-face-of-teacher-uni_b_2616087.html
Garfield High Teachers Webinar on Testing Boycott — this Sunday — sign-up now!
http://brianpjones.tumblr.com/post/42363781463/webinarwithghsProvidence Students’ Strong Op Ed Opposing High-Stakes Testing
http://blogs.providencejournal.com/ri-talks/this-new-england/2013/01/kaitlyn-kelleyluzgely-contrerascheyenne-jones-testing-trauma.htmlPortland Students Push Standardized Test Boycott
http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2013/02/portland_public_schools_studen_1.htmlChicago Parents’ Petition Seeks Limits on Testing
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/18031042-418/cps-parents-petitions-seek-limits-on-testing.htmlNew York Principals Continue Campaign Against High-Stakes Testing Misuse
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/02/03/why-school-reform-is-a-misnomer-principal/Key Texas Legislator Proposes Standardized Exam Requirement Rollback
http://educationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/02/high-school-testing-would-be-scaled-back-under-house-bill.html/State, Local Officials Call for “No Child Left Behind” Overhaul
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-usa-education-legislationbre9140xo-20130205,0,7910245.storyOpposition to Standardized Testing and Increased Common Core Assessments Grows Across Political Spectrum
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/living-in-dialogue/2013/02/opposition_to_common_core_coul.htmlIf Testing Makes for Better Education, Why Are Obama Girls in a School that Disagrees?
http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2013/02/03/if-testing-and-measuring-makes-for-better-schools-why-are-the-obama-girls-in-a-school-that-doesnt-agree/As Testing Backlash Grows, Even Michelle Rhee Takes Notice
http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/inside-politics/2013/feb/3/rhee-urges-balance-testing-backlash-grows/E-mails Link Jeb Bush Foundation with Corporations and State Officials in Pushing Test-Driven “Reform”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/01/30/e-mails-link-bush-foundation-corporations-and-education-officials/Schools Can’t Do It Alone — Why “Doubly Disadvantaged” Kids Continue to Struggle Academically
http://www.alternet.org/education/schools-cant-do-it-alone-why-doubly-disadvantaged-kids-continue-struggle-academicallyA Year at Mission Hill — new video series about a school that works, including a segment on better ways to assess
http://www.ayearatmissionhill.com/index.phpTesting Insanity Kills the Joy of Teaching and Learning
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kenzo-shibata/testing-kills-the-joy-of-_b_2573553.htmlRemember to check out the many resources available athttp://www.fairtest.orgto support your local organizing work. You’ll find everything there from infographics to fact sheets, position papers and bibliographies exposing the flaws of standardized testing and the reality of better ways to assess students, teachers and schools.