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