Testing Resistance & Reform News: April 28 -May 4, 2021

Though many public school classrooms remain closed with millions of children still learning remotely, the Spring 2021 “Testing for the Purpose of . . . Testing” season is nevertheless getting underway in many jurisdictions. Not surprisingly, there is strong resistance from parents, teachers and community leaders with huge numbers of families trying to opt out of this year’s standardized exams Meanwhile, higher education continues to lead the way by expanding admissions policies that eliminate testing requirements based on data about their impacts on equity and educational quality, not ideology or politics.

CaliforniaHundreds of Thousands of Students Will Not Take Statewide Standardized Tests This Spring
https://edsource.org/2021/hundreds-of-thousands-of-california-students-wont-take-statewide-standardized-tests-this-spring/654123

California No Logic In Forcing State Testing
https://www.modbee.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article250840879.html

FloridaQuit Wasting Resources on Student Testing
https://www.jacksonville.com/story/opinion/2021/05/02/guest-column-quit-wasting-resources-student-testing/7412751002/

Florida Community School Addresses Underlying Causes of Low Test Scores
https://www.alternet.org/2021/04/school-test-scores/

IllinoisPrincipal Says 2021 Spring Testing Will Not Provide Any Useful Information
https://chicago.chalkbeat.org/2021/4/30/22405975/chicago-principal-state-testing-pandemic

IndianaNew Performance Dashboard Replaces State Takeovers of Schools
https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/indiana-ends-state-interventions-for-failing-schools-requires-new-performance-dashboard

KentuckySchools Prepare for Reduced Testing Time and Volume
https://wfpl.org/heres-how-jcps-will-approach-k-prep-testing-this-year/

MassachusettsEducators Want Testing Cancelled, Not Just Postponed
https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/news/education/2021/05/04/massachusetts-postponed-mcas-covid-teachers-want-canceled-standardized-testing-remote-learning/4892854001/

MichiganLegislators Debate Suspending Third Grade Promotion Law
https://detroit.chalkbeat.org/2021/4/30/22412811/will-lawmakers-suspend-michigans-tough-third-grade-retention-rule-set-to-take-effect-this-year

MissouriStandardized Exam Underway Despite Teacher Opposition
https://www.ozarksfirst.com/learningcurve/learning-curve-standardized-tests-in-2021/

New MexicoMost Public School Students Will Not Take State Tests This Year
https://www.kob.com/new-mexico-news/new-mexico-students-not-required-to-take-standardized-test-this-year/6091151/

New YorkThousand of NYC Parents Opt Children Out of Annual State Tests
https://bronx.news12.com/thousands-of-nyc-parents-opt-students-out-of-annual-state-tests

New York “Why Are We Doing This?” Parents and Educators Question School Testing Plans
https://13wham.com/news/local/why-are-we-doing-this-parents-and-teachers-question-required-state-assessment-tests

North CarolinaLegislation Advances to Phase Out End-of-Course High School Tests
https://www.wral.com/lawmakers-look-to-ditch-end-of-course-tests-in-nc-high-schools/19649272/

OregonLocal School Board Unanimously Votes to Make Year-End Testing Optional
https://tdn.com/news/local/education/rainier-school-district-makes-state-standardized-testing-optional-this-year/article_78be6358-9b5f-55fd-99b5-d8009d7e56eb.html

TennesseeSchools Offer Parties, Prizes to Encourage Students to Take Tests
https://tn.chalkbeat.org/2021/4/30/22410997/memphis-school-leaders-novel-lure-students-campus-tnready-test

University Admission1,400+ Colleges, Universities Already ACT/SAT-Optional for Fall 2022
https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2021/04/29/1400-4-year-colleges-wont-require-sat-or-act-next-year

Worth ReadingNew Book “Unraveling the Assessment Industrial Complex
https://www.minotdailynews.com/news/local-news/2021/05/msu-professors-book-criticizes-use-of-standardized-testing/

Worth Reading Link Between Test Anxiety and Poor Sleep
http://educationresearchreport.blogspot.com/2021/04/link-between-test-anxiety-and-poor-sleep.html

Worth Watching The Obama Administration’s First 100 Days with Linda Darling-Hammond, Rep. Jamaal Bowman and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman
https://www.facebook.com/edlawcenter/photos/a.1531515183530536/4625999874082036/

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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