Parents, educators, students and activists in many communities are using the “quiet” summer months to plan campaigns that will build the assessment reform movement’s power once schools reopen. Across the country, more and more media outlets are reporting on the impact grassroots organizing already has made on policy-makers.
Remember that archived issues of these weekly updates are online at https://fairtest.orgdata.com.org/news — a quick review of the clips demonstrates how much progress Testing Resistance & Reform Spring made this year.
How California Can Drive Reform With Better Instruction Not More Testing
blogs.edweek.org/edweek/on_california/2014/07/how_to_drive_reform_with_instruction_rather_than_testing.html
Connecticut Professor: We’re Teaching to the Test, Not for Students’ Futures
http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/op_ed/hc-op-barreca-were-teaching-to…
Florida Schools Need “Recess” From Test-Driven Evaluation
http://www.newsherald.com/opinions/editorials/our-view-they-can-t-live-o…
FairTest Challenges New Florida Test-Based Scholarship Program as Race, Gender Biased
http://news.wfsu.org/post/group-plans-federal-challenge-new-florida-scho…
Louisiana Schools Stare Into Common Core Testing Abyss
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/state_edwatch/2014/07/common-core_fight_i…
A “Test” for New Jersey Governor’s Standardized Exam Study Commission
http://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-a-test-for-the-governor-s-stu…
New Mexicans Test Legislators About Flawed Teacher Evaluation System
http://www.daily-times.com/four_corners-news/ci_26155309/educators-share…
New York Teachers Continue “No Confidence” Vote in State Education Commissioner
http://wamc.org/post/nysut-not-ready-reverse-no-confidence-vote
North Carolina Grade Retention Test Policy Revisions Confuse Parents and Children
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/07/18/5050767/read-or-flunk-changi…
Ohio State Auditor to Investigate Charter School Cheating
http://wdtn.com/2014/07/17/state-auditor-to-investigate-horizon-academy-…
Oklahoma PTA Plans to Challenge High-Stakes Testing
http://www.newson6.com/story/26057102/oklahoma-state-pta-poised-to-take-…
Repeal of South Carolina Graduation Test Creates Opportunities for Young People
http://www.thestate.com/2014/07/19/3573446/abolition-in-sc-of-high-schoo…
What Can Utah Learn from Finland?
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/58166744-78/finland-teachers-students-…
Virginia Educators Appointed to Committee Reviewing State Assessments
http://theroanokestar.com/2014/07/22/local-educators-to-serve-on-sol-ref…
Feds Require Washington State to Mislead Parents With Notice That All Schools Are “Failing”
http://blogs.seattletimes.com/today/2014/07/no-relief-for-washington-sch…
Wisconsin Schools Concerned About Impacts of Common Core Linked Tests
http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/next-phase-of-common-core-worries…
AFT Convention Adopts Resolution Blasting edTPA Teacher Licensing Test
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/teacherbeat/2014/07/aft_passes_resolution…
Jeb Bush’s Reading Test Grade Promotion Strategy Loses Ground Nationally
http://www.politico.com/story/2014/07/jeb-bush-florida-education-reading…
Half of All Kindergarteners Start Off Far Behind Due to Poverty
http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2014/07/nearly_half_of_kindergar…
Movie Review: Stop Standardizing Students for Profit
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/my_view/reader-view-stop-standa…
British Headmaster’s Letter to Students Puts Exam Scores in Context
http://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/jul/15/headteacher-note-pupils…