Testing Resistance & Reform News: December 12 -19, 2017

SeasonsGreetingsto assessment reformers across the U.S. (and around the world)! FairTest’s holiday “gift” to you is news demonstrating another week of progress in replacing standardized exam overkill with better systems of assessment.

AlabamaPublic Thinks There’s Much More to School Quality Than State’s Test-Based Letter Grades
http://www.andalusiastarnews.com/2017/12/13/poll-public-has-different-ideas-about-education/

GeorgiaEducation Association Seeks Testing Cutback
https://thebrunswicknews.com/news/local_news/school-funding-testing-reductions-among-georgia-association-of-educators-priorities/article_e89d70c9-4c67-511e-81d4-cfdaf35738e2.html

GeorgiaTen Years AfterAtlanta Cheating Scandal, Efforts to Help Students Fall Short
https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2017/12/19/atlantas-efforts-to-help-students-impacted-by.html

IllinoisIncreased Pressure on Students Leads to Test Anxiety
http://foxillinois.com/news/local/increased-pressures-for-high-school-students-leads-to-test-anxiety-12-18-2017

LouisianaCharter School Shut Down for Widespread Test Cheating
http://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/education/2017/12/14/cheating-caused-tallulah-charter-closure/950795001/

New JerseyGovernor-Elect Promises to Overhaul Testing Requirements
http://www.northjersey.com/story/news/2017/12/14/phil-murphy-education-funding/923802001/

New MexicoBias in VAM Measures of Teacher Effectiveness
http://nepc.colorado.edu/blog/bias-vams

New YorkParents Applaud Decision to Allow Diplomas Without Testing for Special Ed Students
http://www.nysape.org/nysape-mpda-pr-diploma-expansion.html

OhioSchool Board Calls for More Testing Cutbacks
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/12/tests_should_be_cut_further_state_school_board_tells_ohio_legislature.html

OregonCulture of Testing Hurts Students
http://democratherald.com/opinion/letters/op-ed-culture-of-testing-harmful-to-students/article_84a41f39-8c90-5c26-a3b6-65ff01c36e0f.html

Oregon FairTest’s Monty Neill Speaks on “Beyond Opt Out’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SkJyN2y4us

PennsylvaniaFactors Other Than Test Score “Snapshots” Key to Student Learning
http://www.sungazette.com/opinion/editorials/2017/12/beyond-test-snapshot-other-factors-key-to-local-student-learning/

TennesseeEducators, Lawmakers Frustrated with State Exam Problems
http://www.wsmv.com/story/37052997/educators-lawmakers-want-fixes-to-tnready-test

Tennessee Investigation Planned of ACT Score Cancellation
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/12/13/tennessee-to-investigate-act-inc-after-controversy-over-student-test-scores/

TexasSome Testing Requirements Waived for Hurricane Impacted Students
https://www.texastribune.org/2017/12/14/texas-education-agency-waives-some-testing-requirements-harvey-affecte/

Texas Districts Piloting Local Accountability Systems
http://www.wacotrib.com/news/education/waco-isd-to-test-local-accountability-system-with-tea-for/article_8d90ae6b-ef0b-5823-be77-fa4a6187c664.html

VirginiaChanging Assessment Standards
http://www.dailypress.com/news/opinion/dp-edt-public-education-1213-story.html

Virginia Standardized Tests Are Poor Way to Measure Student Success
http://www.vagazette.com/opinion/va-vg-edit-pacheco-1216-story.html

InternationalNew Zealand Government Drops Controversial Standards and Tests
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/346011/national-standards-ditched-by-government

International Australia Bans Computer Grading of Student Essays
http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/a-direct-attack-on-teaching-nsw-rules-out-naplan-robo-marking-20171207-h00jle.html

Worth ReadingWhat Real School Reform Looks Like: An Interview with FairTest Board Member Deborah Meier
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/12/14/heres-a-model-for-major-school-reform-that-looks-vastly-different-from-betsy-devoss-vision

Worth Reading Moving Beyond the Failure of Test-Based Accountability
https://www.aft.org/ae/winter2017-2018/koretz

Tags: