Testing Resistance & Reform News: April 14 – 20, 2021

School testing season is underway in many jurisdictions, but a record number of families are refusing to participate in pointless games dictated by inside-the-DC-Beltway politicians and ideologues. The breadth and depth of pushback by parents, teachers, and policy makers at the state and local levels is unprecedented as opt-out movements rapidly expand across the nation.

NationalBacklash Growing to Biden Administration Insistence That Schools Administer Standardized Tests During Pandemic
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/04/14/backlash-grows-to-bidens-standardized-testing-policy/

National Pacific Northwest Leads Country in Rejecting Federal Exam Mandates
https://www.yaktrinews.com/i/pacific-northwest-school-leaders-say-no-to-standardized-tests/#/questions

National FairTest Opt-Out Guide: Just Say NO to Spring 2021 Standardized Exams!
https://www.fairtest.org/get-involved/opting-out

ArizonaState Ed. Board Clarifies No Punishment for Opting Out of Testing
https://www.kold.com/2021/04/14/arizona-schools-will-not-be-punished-students-not-taking-standardized-tests/

CaliforniaLos Angeles School District Refuses to Administer Most Standardized Tests
https://laist.com/latest/post/20210415/lausd_cancels_sbac_standardized_testing_smarter_balanced_2021

FloridaState Considers More Tests for Four-Year-Olds
https://nepc.colorado.edu/blog/fl-lets-assess

IllinoisChicago Drops Standardized Exam Screen for Selective High School Admission
https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2021/4/15/22386206/cps-high-school-admissions-selective-enrollment-promotion-grades-nwea-map

IndianaSchools Should Be About Much More Than Tests
https://www.wibc.com/news/local-indiana/schools-should-be-much-more-than-tests-says-innovator-starts-forum/

MassachusettsTest Opt Out Guide and Petition
https://schoolyardnews.com/opt-out-of-mcas-a-petition-drive-f35c8a635797

Massachusetts Educators Rally Against State Exams; Remind Parents They Can Opt Children Out of Testing
https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/cambridge-chronicle-tab/2021/04/13/cambridge-educators-rally-against-mcas-testing/7201144002/

MichiganVirtual Learning Students Do Not Have to Take In-School Tests; Board of Ed Backs Assessment Reforms
https://detroit.chalkbeat.org/2021/4/13/22381816/state-education-board-virtual-parents-have-the-right-to-keep-their-kids-from-being-tested

MissouriAlgebra Exam Requirement for Graduation and Scholarship Eligibility Suspended for 2021
https://www.therolladailynews.com/story/news/2021/04/16/missouri-algebra-exam-requirement-waived-all-2021-high-school-seniors/7256043002/

New JerseyWebinar on the Racist Origins of Standardized Testing
https://www.njea.org/register-for-the-racist-history-of-standardized-testing-webinar-apr-29/

New YorkTeachers Say Administering State Tests Is a Mistake; Predict High Opt-Out Rate
https://www.whec.com/coronavirus-schools/teachers-call-decision-not-to-cancel-standardized-tests-for-all-students-a-mistake/6074422/

New York Test Opt-In Policy Is Good; Cancelling the Exams Would Be Even Better
https://indypendent.org/2021/04/its-good-nyc-made-standardized-testing-opt-in-this-year-now-lets-cancel-the-tests/

North CarolinaFamilies for School Testing Reform Online Opt-Out Organizing Event
https://nctestingreform.org/

OregonPortland Public Schools Drops this Spring’s Standardized Exams
https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/9-news/504789-404256-pps-drops-standardized-tests-for-this-spring

PennsylvaniaStatewide Testing Plows Forward After Federal Waiver Denial Despite Severe Logistical Challenges
https://www.fox43.com/article/news/education/school-students-to-face-statewide-exam-testing-despite-plea-to-president-biden-to-help-teachers-student-in-covid19-pandemic/521-dcdf57a7-0034-4546-a13e-42214084130e

Pennsylvania Enough with the Testing
https://www.tnonline.com/20210417/life-with-liz-enough-with-the-testing/

TexasGrassroots Opt-Out Guide in Spanish and English
https://www.houstoncvpe.org/opt_out

Texas Current System of Testing Is Outdated
https://news.utexas.edu/2021/04/19/current-system-of-school-testing-in-texas-is-outdated/

VermontThe Racist Roots of Standardized Testing: Why 2021 Exams Should be Waived
https://vtdigger.org/2021/04/18/alexia-venefra-standardized-testings-racist-origins-and-its-impact-on-children/

WashingtonState Tests Moved to Fall After Feds Fail to Approve Waiver
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/standardized-tests-for-washington-state-students-delayed-until-fall-2021/

WashingtonLegislators Divided Over Bill Suspending EdTPA Educator Licensing Test
https://www.seattletimes.com/education-lab/lawmakers-divided-on-washington-education-bill-that-eliminates-state-testing-requirement-for-some-student-teachers/

University AdmissionsNew Study Documents Benefits of Test-Optional Policies
https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2021/04/19/test-optional-colleges-get-more-pell-grant-students-minority-students

University AdmissionsIncrease in Diversity at Ultra-Selective Universities that Suspended ACT/SAT Requirements
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/17/us/minority-acceptance-ivy-league-cornell.html

University Admissions The Power of Unfair Undergraduate Entrance Exams Is Finally Diminishing
https://hechingerreport.org/opinion-the-power-of-unfair-standardized-tests-is-finally-thankfully-diminishing/

Worth ReadingCommunities Hardest Hit by COVID-19 Are Also the Most Harmed by Standardized Testing
https://truthout.org/articles/communities-hardest-hit-by-covid-are-also-harmed-most-by-standardized-testing/

Worth Reading Standardized Testing in a Pandemic Is Stupid and Cruel
https://nepc.colorado.edu/blog/standardized-testing-pandemic

Worth ListeningAn Interview with Lorrie Shepard About Testing Policy
https://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/podcast-saldana-shepard

Bob Schaeffer, Executive Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing
office-(239) 395-6773 mobile-(239) 699-0468
web-https://fairtest.org.org

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