Testing Resistance & Reform News: August 24 – 30, 2016

“Less Testing, No High-Stakes, Better Assessments” — that’s the core message parents, educators and community leaders are effectively delivering to policymakers as a new school year begins across the nation. Look for a forthcoming FairTest report on “Testing Reform Victories 2015-2016” summarizing recent successes.

Alaska State Seeking Bids for New Test After Exam Administration Failure
http://www.adn.com/alaska-news/education/2016/08/23/alaska-education-dep…

California Designing a Fair, Forward-Looking Way to Assess Schools
http://www.dailynews.com/social-affairs/20160827/why-california-is-strug…
California Results of Teaching to the Test Are Not Good
http://www.sgvtribune.com/opinion/20160826/results-of-teaching-to-the-te…

Colorado Districts Offer Menu of Options for Demonstrating High School Diploma Qualification
http://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/co/2016/08/25/colorado-districts-giving-s…

Florida Judge Blasts State, Districts in Third Grade Test Retention Lawsuit
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/os-third-grade-retenti…
Florida Test Opt-Out Movement Is Growing
http://www.local10.com/education/movement-to-opt-out-of-standardized-tes…
Florida Testing Contractor “Pleased” That State Fine Was Only $5 Million for Computer Screw-ups
http://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2016/08/state-testing-contr…

Georgia State Officials Seek Input on Implementing “No Child Left Behind” Replacement
http://savannahnow.com/news/2016-08-25/georgia-state-officials-seeks-inp…
Georgia Meeting Focuses on State’s Response to New Federal Education Law
http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/section/6/article/118790/

Idaho State Moving Toward “Dashboard” Accountability Without School Rankings
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/state_edwatch/2016/08/idaho_moves_toward_…

Kentucky Tests Only Tell Part of the Story
http://www.centralkynews.com/winchestersun/news/education/rosenthal-test…

Maine Local School Board Adopts Resolution Against “Too Much Testing”
http://www.sunjournal.com/news/lewiston-auburn/2016/08/24/lewiston-schoo…

Massachusetts School Districts Collaborate to Develop Better Assessments
http://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/attleboro-to-join-other-s…

New Mexico Test-Centric Schools Are Toxic to Students
http://www.currentargus.com/story/opinion/columnists/2016/08/30/testing-…

New York Testing Language Learners in English Makes No Sense
http://www.uticaod.com/opinion/20160825/our-view-imtixaanka-macno-lahayn
New York Superintendent Speaks Out Against Testing Craze
https://dianeravitch.net/2016/08/25/new-york-a-long-island-superintenden…

Ohio Teachers Union Hits Airwaves to Promote Awareness of New Federal Education Law
http://www.dispatch.com/content/blogs/the-daily-briefing/2016/08/8292016…

Pennsylvania State High School Grad Testing Requirement Moratorium
http://www.mainlinemedianews.com/articles/2016/08/26/main_line_suburban_…

Rhode Island What Parents Should Know About New High School Graduation Requirements
http://wpri.com/2016/08/29/everything-ri-parents-should-know-about-that-…

Tennessee Confusion Over Whether Passing Score on Civics Test Is Required for Graduation
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2016/08/tennessee_civics_law_l…

Texas Vendor Must Pay $20.7 Million After Multiple Testing Problems
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/education/article/TEA-slaps-N-J-tes…
Texas Legislator Calls for Suspending State Test
https://www.texastribune.org/2016/08/29/state-rep-calls-suspension-staar/

Virginia More Students Opting Out of State Tests
http://www.newsleader.com/story/news/local/2016/08/23/more-parents-optin…
Virginia Test-Based School Grades Do Not Show Educational Progress
http://pilotonline.com/news/local/education/public-schools/the-pass-rate…

West Virginia “A to F” School Grading System Makes No Sense
http://www.theintelligencer.net/opinion/local-columns/2016/08/grading-sc…

International Scottish Education Secretary Tells Teachers to Ditch Unnecessary Tests
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/john-swinney-tell-teache…

ACT/SAT Opting Out of Admissions Tests May Ge a Good Idea
http://www.forbes.com/sites/willarddix/2016/08/29/opting-out-of-submitti…
FairTest’s Database of Test-Optional Colleges and Universities
https://fairtest.orgdata.com.org/university/optional

Worth Reading Misguided Efforts to Close “Achievement Gap” Create “Play Gap” Inequality
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/08/23/our-misgu…
Worth Reading Making Whole-Child Education the Norm
http://www.epi.org/publication/making-whole-child-education-the-norm/

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