Testing Resistance & Reform News: August 9 -15, 2017

A broad range of voices — from parents and teachers to scholars and researchers to legislators and governors — continue to speak out against testing overuse and misuse. As the assessment reform movement grows, it has an ever-increasing impact on public policy, particularly at the district and state level.

Arkansas State to End “Gotcha” School Grades
http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2017/aug/13/gotcha-grades-out-for-schools-…

Colorado Feds Criticize Proposal to Ignore Test Opt-Outs in State ESSA Plan
https://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/co/2017/08/14/feds-to-colorado-you-must-…

Florida Citrus School Board Is First to Eliminate Value-Added Educator Evaluation, More Districts to Follow
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/citrus-county-school-board-does-…
Florida The Collateral Damage of an “F” School Grade
http://www.ocala.com/opinion/20170813/lisa-fontaine-collateral-damage-of…

Georgia Appeals of School Test Cheating Convictions Rejected
http://www.ajc.com/news/state–regional-education/educators-lose-appeal-…
Georgia Superintendent Wants to Opt-Out of State Requested Pre-Tests
http://www.rockdalenewtoncitizen.com/news/school/rockdale-schools-oppose…

Iowa How Should School Success Be Measured Under ESSA?
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/education/2017/08/03/should-…

Massachusetts Teacher Evaluation System Rated Unfair for Ignoring Effects of Poverty
http://baystatebanner.com/news/2017/aug/09/mass-school-evaluations-calle…
Massachusetts The Mismeasure of Schools: Data, Real Estate and Segregation
http://haveyouheardblog.com/the-mismeasure-of-schools-data-real-estate-a…

Minnesota Rethinking Assessment of English Language Learners
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2017/08/11/minn-rethinks-assessment-of-eng…

New Jersey In TED Talk, Principal Raps Against Testing Fixation
http://www.app.com/story/news/education/in-our-schools/2017/08/09/jackso…

New York A School Where Students Cannot Fail
http://hechingerreport.org/im-not-successful/

Ohio Schools Try to Help Students Threatened by Grade Promotion Test Scoring Change
http://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/columbus-city-schools-helping-third…

Pennsylvania New Education Guidelines Call for Fewer Standardized Exams
http://www.wfmz.com/news/lehigh-valley/new-education-guidelines-stress-f…
Pennsylvania Educators Applaud Plan to Reduce Testing Times
http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/lancaster-county-educators-welcome…

Texas Federal Court Finds “Value-Added” Teacher Rating System a House of Cards
http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/education_law/2017/08/federal-court-fin…

Vermont What Do Achievement Tests Really Tell Us?
https://vtdigger.org/2017/08/09/william-mathis-achievement-tests-tell-us/

International Australian Teachers Urged Not to Sign Pre-Test Questions Confidentiality Agreement
http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/teachers-told-not-to-sign-napla…

University Admissions Why Purchase College No Longer Requires ACT/SAT Scores
https://westfaironline.com/92305/why-purchase-college-no-longer-requires…

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