Testing Resistance & Reform News: August 3 – 9, 2016

FairTest hopes that these news summaries, which now go to several thousand activists, educators and policymakers each week, provide useful material for your assessment reform work. Please remember that you can support FairTest projects, including “Testing Resistance & Reform News” by making a contribution at:https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/fairtest— thank you!

NationalNew, More Flexible Era of Educational Accountability Under ESSA
http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-08-02/the-new-era-of-education-accountability

CaliforniaTop State Education Officials Criticize Draft Federal Testing Regulations
https://edsource.org/2016/top-state-education-officials-detail-objections-to-federal-regulations/567724

California Former State Superintendent Challenges “Test and Punish” Policies
https://deutsch29.wordpress.com/2016/08/06/introducing-bill-honigs-challenge-to-test-and-punish-buildingbetterschools-com/

ConnecticutNew Test, Same Challenging Results
http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/New-test-same-challenging-results-9098304.php

Connecticut Test-Driven Policies Ignore Evidence of What Really Works
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Wendy-Lecker-Policy-can-foster-positive-9125538.php

District of ColumbiaCorporate “Reformers” Spin Test Score Data
http://www.livingindialogue.com/corporate-reformers-spin-data/

FloridaDisabled Girl’s Mom Wins Hearing, Legal Fees Over Testing
http://www.thescoopradioshow.com/lyons-disabled-girls-mom-wins-hearing-over-testing-heraldtribune/

Florida Test-Driven System Pushes Good Teachers Out
http://fortmyers.floridaweekly.com/news/2016-08-03/Top_News/Troubled_teachers.html

Florida School Grading Is a Disservice
http://www.pnj.com/story/opinion/2016/08/04/letters-school-grading-disservice/88068840/

GeorgiaNew Law Means Students Will Spend Less Time on Testing
http://onlineathens.com/mobile/2016-08-06/change-law-means-less-time-testing-more-time-class-georgia-students

LouisianaImpacts of New Federal Law on State Testing
http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2016/08/new_education_law_matters.html

MissouriTest Results Delayed Again
http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/missouri-test-scores-district-report-cards-will-be-delayed-again

MontanaU.S. Senator John Tester Opposes Overly Heavy Federal Regulations
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/local/2016/08/02/tester-heavy-federal-regulation-schools/87969948/

New JerseyOne Vote Makes It Harder to Graduate From High School
http://www.nj.com/education/2016/08/why_graduating_from_high_school_may_become_harder.html

New Jersey Educators Say PARCC Is Waste of Time, Resources
http://njtoday.net/2016/08/02/parcc-wastes-time-resources/

New Jersey Court Challenge Likely for PARCC Exit Exam Requirement
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/16/08/03/court-challenge-likely-for-new-hs-graduation-requirements-tied-to-parcc-testing/

New YorkAssessment Reform Leaders React to 2016 Test Scores, High Opt-Out Rates
http://www.nysape.org/nysape-pr-opt-out-16-results.html

New York Ever-Changing Tests Make Year-to-Year Comparisons Impossible
http://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/ny/2016/08/03/if-state-tests-keep-changing-should-they-still-be-used-to-judge-struggling-schools/

New York Testing Reform Group Questions Scores
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Anti-testing-group-questions-New-York-state-scores-9125693.php

PennsylvaniaLocal Board Toys with Ignoring Standardized Tests
http://www.pottsmerc.com/general-news/20160806/pottstown-board-toys-with-ignoring-standardized-tests

TennesseeStudent Testing Time Reduced by 30%
http://www.elkvalleytimes.com/student-testing-time-reduced-by-30-percent/

TexasEducators Wary of School Ratings After Testing Disasters
http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/northeast-tarrant/article94254042.html

VermontState School Board Criticizes ESSA Assumptions in Response to Draft Regulations
http://www.schoolsmatter.info/2016/08/essa-vermont-state-board-of-ed-letter.html

ACT/SATLasell College Adopts Test-Optional Admission
http://patch.com/massachusetts/newton/lasell-forgo-testing-requirements-admission

ACT/SAT List of Schools That Do Not Require ACT/SAT Scores From All or Many Applicants
https://fairtest.orgdata.com.org/university/optional

Worth ReadingShould Learning Games Be Used as Assessment Tools
https://gcn.com/articles/2016/08/02/games-standardized-testing.aspx

Worth Reading To Teach a Child to Read, First Provide Eye Glasses
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/07/opinion/sunday/to-teach-a-child-to-read-first-give-him-glasses.html

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