Testing Resistance & Reform News: August 29 – September 4, 2018

Labor Day marks the official start of the school year in parts of the country, though classroom have been open for a few weeks in many other states. Already, assessment reform campaigns are winning victories as more public officials heed the message that parents, teachers, administrators and community leaders are fed up with standardized exam misuse and overuse. Could impending elections be a reason for these policy shifts?

CaliforniaSubstituting SAT/ACT for Smarter Balanced High School Test Is Not a Smart Idea
https://edsource.org/2018/substituting-sat-act-for-the-smarter-balanced-test-is-not-a-smart-idea/601775

FloridaState Ed Boss Avoids Questions About Test That Cost 1,000+ Teachers Their Jobs
https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local-news/i-team-investigates/florida-education-boss-avoids-questions-after-1000-teachers-terminated-for-failing-state-exam

GeorgiaTeachers Are Not the Cause of Test Score Gaps
https://flagpole.com/news/comment/2018/08/29/teachers-are-not-the-problem-with-clarke-county-schools

KentuckyPlacing More Kids in Special Ed. Classes to Boost Test Scores Is Cheating
https://www.kentucky.com/opinion/editorials/article217659535.html

MassachusettsDistrict Questions State’s Testing Obsession
http://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/columns/ned-bristol-our-schools-are-no-but-that-s-not/article_d8b07a41-6be0-5009-a8d5-e74359d73b29.html

MichiganPoverty Is Major Factor in Lagging Test Scores
https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2018/08/west_michigan_school_leaders_t.html

MinnesotaMulti-Factor School Accountability System Unveiled
http://www.valleynewslive.com/content/news/Minnesota-unveils-new-school-accountability-system-492140131.html

New JerseyRole of Student Test Scores in Teacher Evaluations Slashed to 5%
https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/2018/08/31/new-jersey-parcc-teacher-evaluations-education-phil-murphy/1160691002/

OhioNew State Education Plan Edges Away From Testing
http://www.the-review.com/news/20180828/ohios-new-education-plan-moves-away-from-testing

NevadaAlternative to Third Grade Reading Retention Test Approved
https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/education/nevada-oks-alternate-test-for-3rd-graders-who-fail-read-by-3-exam/

North CarolinaState Reduces Number of Tests for Lower Grades
http://www.the-dispatch.com/news/20180829/state-reduces-number-of-tests-for-lower-grades

PennsylvaniaA Proposal That Is Better Than a Graduation Test
http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2018/08/pa-better-than-graduation-test.html

TexasThe Sad ABCs of State’s School Grading Scam
https://www.mystatesman.com/news/opinion/two-views-the-sad-abcs-the-texas-school-ratings/THuJK8e2P3A1XB6loxFqGO/

Texas An Exceptional Education at a “Failing” School
http://www.hisdparents.org/blog/2018/9/1/my-kids-school-has-provided-an-exceptional-education-the-tea-says-its-failing

VirginiaNew Accreditation Standards Rate Schools on More Than Test Scores
https://www.wric.com/news/politics/capitol-connection/major-changes-to-way-virginia-schools-are-evaluated-for-accreditation/1410363448

University AdmissionsReports of Leaked Test Content Leaves Students Questioning SAT’s Integrity
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/08/28/august-sat-test-reuse-cheating-college-board-october-2017/1120558002/

https://www.newsday.com/long-island/education/sat-college-board-duplication-social-media-1.20724515

InternationalCanada Should Mandatory School Testing Be Scrapped?
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/thebigdebate/2018/09/04/should-mandatory-school-testing-be-scrapped-yes.html

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

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