Testing Resistance & Reform News: August 26 – September 1, 2020

Thanks to everyone who has responded so far to FairTest’s 35th anniversary fundraising request, especially for the many positive comments about the value of our assessment reform initiatives such as these weekly news updates. If you did not have the opportunity to contribute (we know there was a technical problem with the “button” in some emails), you can still support FairTest’s leadership by clicking here:

https://fairtest.org.org/donate
or mailing your check to 196 Spring Street, Arlington, MA 02476

Here’s this week’s news highlighting key current controversies and resources:
National Will COVID-19 Lead to a Permanent Shift Away From Reliance on Standardized Exams?

https://www.educationdive.com/news/fast-forward-will-covid-19-trigger-shift-from-standardized-assessments/583907/

Georgia State Drops Four Tests From List of Requirements
https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/politics/state/story/2020/aug/29/georgida-rops-4-previously-required-high-school/531100/

Massachusetts Boston City Council Unanimously Adopts Resolution Calling for Suspension of State Tests
http://meetingrecords.cityofboston.gov/sirepub/view.aspx?cabinet=published_meetings&fileid=309261
Massachusetts Scoring Error on Admissions Tests Kept Dozens Out of Exam Schools
https://www.wbur.org/edify/2020/08/31/boston-exam-school-error

New Jersey State Continues Test-Based School Grades Despite Pandemic Disruption of Classes
https://patch.com/new-jersey/pointpleasant/every-nj-school-graded-2020-state-report-where-do-you-rank

New York Students Call City’s Selective School Admissions Unfair, Suggest Alternatives
https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/students-nyc-public-admissions-process-flawed-what-do-instead

North Carolina Increased Problems with One-Size-Fits-All Student Assessments Under COVID
https://news.elearninginside.com/the-federal-government-and-cuts-to-education-with-ontario-wooden/

Pennsylvania The Case for Ignoring Public School Rankings
https://www.phillymag.com/news/2020/08/29/public-school-rankings-philadelphia/

South Carolina State Seeks Public Input on Second Year Federal Testing Waiver
https://www.foxcarolina.com/news/scde-seeking-public-input-on-federal-assessments/article_f96957ea-e849-11ea-b58e-cbe26eac980b.html

Tennessee Nashville School Board Calls on State to Suspend Standardized Exams
https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2020/08/26/metro-nashville-school-board-calls-state-waive-tnready-testing/3439059001/

Texas What You Need to Know About State Testing
https://dianeravitch.net/2020/08/31/walter-stroup-what-texans-need-to-know-about-standardized-testing/

West Virginia Lawsuit Reveals Lobbying Drama Over State Testing Contract
https://www.weirtondailytimes.com/news/local-news/2020/08/lawsuit-reveals-standardized-test-drama-in-west-virginia/

University Admissions Finally University of Georgia System Waives ACT/SAT Requirements
https://www.ajc.com/education/get-schooled-blog/finally-university-system-of-georgia-waives-actsat-requirement-for-2021-applicants/TDL2DAOGSFE63HLQOQST7RPGRY/
University Admissions FairTest Master List of Test-Optional Colleges and Universities Tops 1,500 Schools
https://fairtest.org.org/university/optional

International Canada Teachers Urge Pandemic Suspension of Annual Exams
https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/coronavirus/teachers-urge-pandemic-pause-of-standard-grade-12-tests-572232832.html

Worth Reading Pandemic Show Us What Intelligence Really Is
https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2020/08/31/pandemic-has-proven-standardized-tests-dont-measure-whats-important-opinion

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

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