With classrooms opening — or preparing to do so — around the U.S., there’s a seasonal uptick in the volume of stories about teachers, administrators, community activists, and policy makers questioning the value of standardized exam scores, which have long dominated education policy making. Clearly time to ratchet up grassroots pressure, which drives policy change.
National “No Child” Pressures to Boost Test Scores Got Diminishing Returns
https://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/us/2018/08/13/pressuring-schools-to-raise-test-scores-got-diminishing-returns-new-study-of-no-child-left-behind-finds/
Florida District Refuses to Reassign Teachers Based on Faulty “Value-Added” Scores
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/2018/08/09/pasco-district-has-no-plans-to-move-teachers-because-of-vam-scores-regardless-of-state-rule/
Florida Kindergarten Readiness Test Needs Legislative Review
http://www.ocala.com/opinion/20180810/editorial-vpk-test-needs-legislative-review
Louisiana How About Creating Schools with a Broader Purpose Than Boosting Test Scores?
https://thelensnola.org/2018/08/13/how-about-creating-schools-with-more-purpose-than-test-scores-and-letter-grades/
Louisiana “Innovative” Assessments to Test Students on Books They Actually Have Read
https://deutsch29.wordpress.com/2018/08/12/louisianas-essa-innovative-assessments-testing-based-on-books-students-will-have-already-read/
New York: Parents to Pols: Don’t Punish Schools for Opt-Out Rates
https://nycpublicschoolparents.blogspot.com/2018/08/send-your-email-today-to-nysed-dont.html
New York More Questions About NYC Specialized High School Admissions Test
https://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/ny/2018/08/13/fair-and-objective-or-useless-and-biased-a-chalkbeat-guide-to-the-case-for-and-against-new-york-citys-specialized-high-school-test/
North Carolina Licensing Test Denies Hundreds of Classrooms Math Teachers
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/education/article216246840.html
Tennessee School Year Begins With Questions About Testing
http://www.wsmv.com/story/38835057/school-year-begins-with-questions-about-standardized-testing
Texas Educators Prepare to Dissect Phony School Grades
http://www.kcbd.com/story/38841909/texas-will-soon-release-a-f-grades-for-schools-educators-are-organizing-in-opposition
Texas Superintendents Continue to Question Testing Process
http://www.athensreview.com/news/superintendents-continue-to-question-testing-process/article_c46fe31c-9b5a-11e8-980e-fb91d698f150.html
Utah New Policy on Opt-Outs Could Hurt High-Performing School’s State Grade
https://www.parkrecord.com/news/under-new-policy-high-opt-out-rates-could-sink-park-city-school-districts-statewide-grades/
Vermont Everything Important in Education Cannot Be Measured
https://www.benningtonbanner.com/stories/william-j-mathis-education-reforms-everything-important-cannot-be-measured,547161
Virginia Passing “Standards of Learning” Tests No Longer Required for Graduation
https://www.suffolknewsherald.com/2018/08/09/accreditation-graduation-requirements-change/
Teacher Testing: 10 Reasons Why You Can’t Fairly Evaluate Educators with “Value-Added” Scores
https://gadflyonthewallblog.com/2018/08/06/top-10-reasons-you-cant-fairly-evaluate-teachers-on-student-test-scores/
University Admissions Flagler College, One of Top Schools in South, Adopts Test-Optional Admissions Policy
http://www.flagler.edu/campus-community/news/flagler-college-office-of-admissions-announces-new-test-optional-application-policy.php
International United Kingdom Inspectors to Mark Down Schools That Focus on Test Prep
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6052237/GCSE-exam-factory-schools-marked-teaching-expense-art-drama.html