The rapid pace of strong news stories and commentaries about assessment reform campaigns continued uninterrupted through the long Independence Day weekend. More and more media outlets are reporting the widespread grassroots response to testing overkill: “Enough is Enough!” And, some politicians are starting to listen.
Remember that back issues of these weekly news summaries are available at: https://fairtest.orgdata.com.org/news
Common Core Testing Rebellion Sweeps Nation
http://www.politico.com/story/2014/07/common-core-test-anxiety-108527.html
Task Force Appointed to Review Colorado Testing System
http://co.chalkbeat.org/2014/07/02/long-summer-and-fall-ahead-for-testing-task-force/#.U7RdCGOTHZc
New Florida Test May Be Worse Than Discredited Old Exam
http://mynews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2014/7/2/school_board_member_.html
Is Florida “Nuts” to Pay Utah $5 Million for Test Questions
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/todaysbuzz/sfl-is-florida-nuts-to-pay-utah-5-million-for-test-questions-20140707,0,1483645.story
Florida Requires Creation of 700 New Tests to Assess Teachers — Misses Deadline to Help Districts
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2014/jul/07/collier-officials-state-missing-deadline-8212-in/
Racial Disparities Continue to Georgia Gifted-and-Talented Programs
http://www.myajc.com/news/news/local-education/racial-gaps-remain-in-gifted-programs-ajc-analysis/ngSBq/#237d8f5e.2767361.735417
Battery of Exams Leaves Indiana Students Little Time for Learning
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20140703/EDIT07/307039997/1021/edit
Common Core Testing Fight Pits Louisiana Governor Against State’s School Chief and Board of Ed
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2014/07/02/36louisiana.h33.html
Debate Over New Jersey Standardized Testing Puts Gov. Christie in No-Win Situation
http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/speak-easy/item/69971-the-debate-over-standardized-tests-has-put-gov-christie-in-a-no-win-situation
New Mexico Teacher Turns Down $5,000 Test-Based Bonus
http://cnjonline.com/2014/07/02/education-officials-should-follow-lead-of-teacher/
Some Ohio School Districts May Be Able to Opt-Out of State Standardized Test Mandates
http://ysnews.com/news/2014/07/yellow-springs-schools-aim-to-opt-out-of-tests
Testing Company Fired in Oklahoma Had Similar Problems in Indiana
http://in.chalkbeat.org/2014/07/01/oklahoma-fires-ctbmcgraw-hill-as-testing-vendor/#.U7Q00mOTHZc
Most Oklahomans Oppose Basing Third-Grade Promotion on Test Score
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/education/poll-most-oppose-basing-third-grade-promotion-on-single-test/article_75c4f16e-400d-5671-a44e-bdc4bbdbe26f.html
Pennsylvania State Rep. — Stop Use of Exams for Graduation
http://www.dailylocal.com/opinion/20140701/the-high-school-keystone-exams-not-ready-for-graduation
Rhode Island Multi-Year Grad Test Moratorium Becomes Law
http://www.wral.com/necap-moratorium-becomes-law-in-rhode-island/13781084/
Controversy Swirls Around Value of Tennessee Test Results
http://nashvillepublicradio.org/blog/2014/07/01/muted-fanfare-tcap-results-debate-swirls-tests-reliability/
Texas Governor Proposes Another Delay in Including Standardized Test Scores in Final Grades
http://www.ksat.com/content/pns/ksat/news/politics/2012/11/29/perry-give-students-another-staar-grade-deferral.html
Virginia Legislature Establishes Committee to Overhaul State Testing System
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/va-committee-formed-to-reform-sol-tests/2014/07/03/bd33d344-02d7-11e4-b8ff-89afd3fad6bd_story.html
Washington State Study: Tests Stressed Too Much
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20140702/NEWS01/140709824/Study-Tests-are-stressed-too-much–
Federal Testing Mandate Hurts Washington State Students
http://union-bulletin.com/news/2014/jul/07/feds-education-mandates-hurt-state-students/
Wyoming Test Changes Delay Score Release
http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/test-changes-mean-release-delay-for-paws/article_e15925d8-e622-5ace-b65e-49cc3096e783.html
NEA Launches Campaign Against “Toxic Testing”
http://www.nea.org/grants/33354.htm
Teacher Union President: Current Testing System “Will Crumble”
http://co.chalkbeat.org/2014/07/02/nea-president-current-testing-system-will-crumble/#.U7R342OTHZc
Teachers Fear Common Core Testing Will Be Worse Than “No Child Left Behind”
https://www.edsurge.com/n/2014-07-02-do-teachers-really-hate-common-core-from-the-floor-of-iste-20
Why a Common Core Testing Moratorium is Needed
http://www.fairtest.org/common-core-assessments-factsheet
Arne Duncan: The Emperor is Naked
http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_26068463/school-reform-is-just-another-advertising-campaign
Replace Arne Duncan With Bill Gates — Satire Warning!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-thompson/replace-arne-duncan-with_b_5560187.html
“Accountability” vs What We Want For Our Children
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/top_performers/2014/07/accountability_vs_what_we_want_for_our_children.html
Restore GED Fairness: Campaign to Replace Pearson’s New Common Core Linked Exam
http://restoregedfairness.org/
Standardized Tests Not Required: More Schools Join Test-Optional Admissions Movement
http://college.usatoday.com/2014/07/07/no-the-sat-is-not-required-more-colleges-join-test-optional-train/
New Film Offers Student Perspective on America’s Testing Culture
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2014/07/04/test-j04.html