Testing Resistance & Reform News: April 25 – May 1, 2018

It’s peak testing season, with many problems regarding standardized exams — both how they are administered and, more importantly, how their results are (mis)used — reported around the country. Fortunately, a growing movement of parents, students, educators and community leaders is pushing back: visits to FairTest’s Opt-Out Guide (http://www.fairtest.org/get-involved/opting-out) and other resources for activists doubled in April over the same month last year! In more and more jurisdictions, policymakers are getting the message to reduce testing volume and consequences.

NationalWhat “Nation at Risk Got Wrong
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2018/04/26/the-landmark-a-nation-at-risk-called-for-education-reform-35-years-ago-heres-how-it-was-bungled

CaliforniaMore Teaching, Less Testing
https://iamaneducator.com/2018/04/26/more-teaching-less-testing/

KentuckyState Takes Over Testing for Schools with Major Cheating Concerns
https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/education/2018/04/26/jcps-kentucky-takeover-kprep-testing-cheating/532097002/

LouisianaState Senate Adopts Resolution Seeking End to Opt-Out Penalties
http://educatelouisiana.org/2018/04/27/finally-relief-for-opt-out-parents/#comment-2858

MassachusettsHigh-Stakes Testing: Interview with Mass. Teachers Association and FairTest
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7P5zxX3pAQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ2qvb4cP1M

Massachusetts Testing Marathon Leaves Eight-Year-Olds Exhausted, Stressed Out
https://lesstestingmorelearning.tumblr.com/post/173335153089/story-16-teacher-the-amount-of-stamina-it-took

MichiganIs State Testing on the Right Path?
http://wkar.org/post/m-step-right-path

MinnesotaNew Problems with Pearson’s Computerized Tests
http://www.kaaltv.com/education/minnesota-mca-pearson-testing-issues/4881444/

MississippiSome End-of-Course Test Scores May Not Count in Student Grades
https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2018/04/24/state-testing-biology-u-s-history-may-not-count-final-grades-next-year/545644002/

New Jersey‘Twas the Night Before PARCC
http://www.myveronanj.com/2018/04/28/twas-the-night-before-parcc/

New Jersey State Seeks Input for New Assessments
https://truthinamericaneducation.com/common-core-assessments/new-jersey-seeks-input-for-new-assessment/

New YorkLeaders Introduce Bill to Remove Student Test Scores From Teacher Evaluation Formula
https://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/ny/2018/04/26/the-debate-is-back-new-york-state-leaders-introduce-bill-to-overhaul-teacher-evaluations/

New YorkFor Better Schools, Ditch Standardized Testing
https://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Churchill-Standardized-tests-tell-us-nothing-12872169.php

OhioFalse Claim About Value-Added Assessment
http://vamboozled.com/an-important-but-false-claim-about-the-evaas-in-ohio/

Ohio Alternatives to Exit Exam will Increase Graduation Rate
https://www.ohio.com/akron/news/breaking-news-news/akron-school-district-expects-sharp-increase-in-graduates-as-a-result-of-states-new-alternative-requirements

PennsylvaniaTesting Is Making Some Kids Sick
http://www.readingeagle.com/voices/article/standardized-tests-having-ill-effects-on-students

South CarolinaTesting Fixation Undermines Curriculum Relevance and Creativity
https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/letter-year-end-testing/article_1bd3cca8-471f-11e8-b3bf-af1107e911a6.html

TennesseeComputerized Exams Not Ready
http://www.nwtntoday.com/2018/04/24/tnready-not-ready/

Tennessee Severed Fiber Cable Disrupts Computer Testing Again
https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/education/2018/04/26/tennessee-school-test-tnready-halted-again-due-severed-fiber-cable/553785002/

Tennessee Lawmakers Request State Review of Troubled State Testing System
https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2018/04/24/tennessee-lawmakers-request-state-review-troubled-tnready-testing-system/546014002/

UniversityNewStudy Shows Colleges That Drop ACT/SAT Enhance Diversity
https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2018/04/26/604875394/study-colleges-that-ditch-the-sat-and-act-can-enhance-diversity

UniversityFairTest List of 1,000+ Test-Optional Colleges
https://fairtest.orgdata.com.org/university/optional

InternationalGreat Britain School Testing Has Become “Crack Cocaine” for British Government
https://www.tes.com/news/testing-has-become-crack-cocaine-government

International Canada Teachers Union Demands End of Standardized Test
https://www.baytoday.ca/local-news/end-standardized-tests-demands-teachers-union-904278

International Thailand Reign in Testing to Promote Equity
https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1454966/reining-in-rampant-testing-for-the-sake-of-equity

Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing
phone:239 395-6773 mobile:239 699-0468
web:http://www.fairtest.org

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