Two big stories as testing season gets underway in many states — the surging opt-out movement and the collapse of many states’ computerized exam delivery systems — both demonstrating the ongoing failure of politically driven test-and-punish policies.
National Why All Families Should Opt Out of High-Stakes Standardized Tests
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/04/03/diane-rav…
National Testing Time at Schools, Is There a Better Way
http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/04/health/school-testing-alternatives-measure…
National Opt-Out Movement Aims to Reach More African American and Latino Families
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/04/opt-out-movement-aims-to-lure-more…
National Three Cheers for the Opt-Out Movement
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-thompson/three-cheers-for-the-opt_b_9…
Multiple States Some Standardized Testing On Hold In More Than a Dozen States
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/standardized-testing-hold-dozen-state…
Multiple States Updated FairTest Chronology of Computerized Testing Problems
http://www.fairtest.org/computerized-testing-problems-chronology
Multiple States Number of Jurisdictions With High School Graduation Tests Drops Significantly, Now Just 15
http://www.fairtest.org/graduation-test-update-states-recently-eliminated
Alaska State Cancels Annual Test After Computerized Exam Failure
http://peninsulaclarion.com/news/2016-04-02/state-schools-chief-cancels-…
California High School Diplomas at Last for Those Who Failed Exit Exam
http://edsource.org/2016/high-school-diplomas-at-last-for-students-who-f…
Colorado Local Groups Educates Parents and Students About Opt-Out Rights
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/local-group-on-a-mission…
Connecticut Campaign to Rollback Test Use for Teacher Evaluation
http://news.wfsu.org/post/testing-season-has-opt-out-proponents-hoping-m…
District of Columbia How Test Data Obsessed School Policies Drive Inequality
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/03/31/d-c-paren…
Florida Computer-Based Testing Frenzy Begins
http://www.tallahassee.com/story/life/family/2016/03/29/computer-based-t…
Florida Testing Season Has Opt-Out Proponents Hoping More Will Join
http://news.wfsu.org/post/testing-season-has-opt-out-proponents-hoping-m…
Florida Teacher Letter to Students Explains That Test Scores Don’t Measure Their Worth
http://www.local10.com/education/teacher-writes-emotional-letter-to-stud…
Georgia Tired of School Testing Overkill, Georgia Cuts Back
http://www.myajc.com/news/news/local-education/tired-of-school-testing-g…
Illinois Opt-Out Advocates Organize to Expand Movement
https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/will-parents-opt-their-kids-out-of-…
Illinois Refusing PARCC Tests: Why and How
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/winnetka/community/chi-ugc-article…
Maine Teach to the Test Paradigm Fails to Prepare Students for Real-World Problems
http://www.pressherald.com/2016/04/03/teach-to-the-test-paradigm-fails-i…
Massachusetts How to Opt-Out of the State Tests Video
https://www.facebook.com/MassOptOut/videos/vb.874234329357556/9263019974…
Massachusetts All School Districts Should Be Able to Adopt Test Opt-Out Policies
http://wbsm.com/if-amherst-pelham-can-opt-out-new-bedford-should-be-able…
Massachusetts School Board Member Opts Own Child Out of State Tests
http://lawrencereceivership.com/2016/03/your-right-to-opt-out-of-parcc-a…
New Jersey As Testing Begins, Will Students Again Opt Out in Droves
http://nj1015.com/parcc-testing-underway-will-nj-students-opt-out-in-dro…
New Mexico ACLU Challenges Ban on Teacher Criticism of Tests
http://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2016/03/30/new-mexico-teachers-challen…
New Mexico State Legislator Seeks Clarity on Opt-Out Penalty Threats
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/senator-looks-for-clari…
New York Parents, Educators Organize to Repeat Opt-Out Success
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/education/parents-teachers-hope-repe…
New York Black Principal Lauded for Score Growth Now Speaks Out Against Tests
https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160330/eastchester/bronx-principal-la…
New York What Does the Opt-Out Movement Want This Year?
http://ny.chalkbeat.org/2016/03/30/what-does-the-opt-out-movement-want-t…
New York Failed Tests Lead to Impending High School Graduation Crisis
https://biancatanis.wordpress.com/2016/03/30/failed-tests-and-new-yorks-…
Ohio Local Superintendents Blast Test-Based School Report Cards
http://www.athensmessenger.com/news/local-supts-state-report-card-not-an…
Oklahoma Bill to Terminate State End-of-Course Tests Considered by Legislature
http://www.tulsaworld.com/communities/skiatook/schools/measure-to-elimin…
Pennsylvania Standardized Testing Opponents Forecast Increase in Opt Outs
http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/10216576-74/tests-students-opt
Pennsylvania Test Scores Are Not a Strong Predictor of School Success
http://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2016/03/test_scores_arent_always_an_ac.html
Rhode Island Cyber Attack Postpones Testing
http://wpri.com/2016/03/30/cyber-attack-postpones-parcc-testing-at-warwi…
Tennessee State Tries to Slow Growing Opt-Out Movement
http://tn.chalkbeat.org/2016/04/04/state-seeks-to-limit-opt-out-options-…
Tennessee Board Agrees Schools Stressed by Testing
http://www.murfreesboropost.com/city-schools-stressed-by-tests-board-agr…
Texas Computer Testing Glitch Wiped Out Many Students Answers
http://www.houstonpress.com/news/staar-testing-glitch-erased-untold-numb…
Texas Students Opt Out of State Testing
http://www.kiiitv.com/story/31596941/houston-area-students-opt-out-of-st…
Texas My Son Is Much More Than His Test Score
http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/latest-columns/20160330-kathleen-thomp…
Teachers Will New Exams Make the Profession More Overwhelmingly White?
http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-04-04/will-new-teacher-tests-ma…
ACT/SAT Security Breaches Hamper International Admissions Test Administrations
http://www.educationdive.com/news/security-breaches-plague-international…
What the Testing Juggernaut Gets So Wrong About American Schools
http://www.alternet.org/education/what-testing-juggernaut-americas-schoo…
More Than a Score: Jesse Hagopian TED Talk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gL64chNiuJQ&app=desktop
Is Education Being Measured To Death?
http://educationopportunitynetwork.org/is-education-being-measured-to-de…
Politicians Think Your Kids Need Standardized Testing — But Not Theirs
http://www.thenation.com/article/these-politicians-think-your-kids-need-…
Kindergartener’s Unexpected Test Answer Is Going Viral
http://www.seventeen.com/life/school/news/a39211/this-kindergartener-hil…