Across the U.S., parents and educators are rising up against politicians who insist on resuming in-person, standardized exams in the midst of a pandemic. A huge, grassroots opt-out movement is likely to take off, if Spring 2021 testing mandates are not waived.
Remember to sign the “National Call to Suspend High-Stakes Testing in Spring 2021” and encourage allies to do so!
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/suspend-high-stakes-student-testing
ColoradoEducators Push for Testing Suspension
https://co.chalkbeat.org/2020/12/4/22154231/to-test-or-not-to-test-colorado-educators-and-advocates-divided-cmas
District of ColumbiaCity Considers Cancelling High School Entrance Exam
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/school-without-walls-admissions/2020/12/04/74cf7060-366d-11eb-8d38-6aea1adb3839_story.html
FloridaDistrict Thinks Priorities Are Testing, Testing and More Testing; Many Parents Will Opt Out
https://jaxkidsmatter.blogspot.com/2020/12/dcps-reveals-its-priorities-test-test.html
GeorgiaTeachers for Good Trouble Organizes Against Standardized Tests, for Teacher Strike
https://www.change.org/p/betsy-devos-teachers-for-good-trouble-stop-standardized-testing-during-covid-19-pandemic
LouisianaConcerns Grow About In-Person, End-of-Course Testing
https://www.klfy.com/education/concern-grows-for-some-parents-about-required-eoc-exams/
MassachusettsParents Rally Against State Demand to Resume Standardized Exams This Spring
https://www.gazettenet.com/Educators-parents-rally-against-state-s-efforts-to-move-forward-with-MCAS-testing-this-school-year-37622088
New YorkFight Grows Over Selective High School Admissions Test
https://bedfordandbowery.com/2020/12/fight-intensifies-over-exam-said-to-keep-black-students-out-of-nycs-elite-high-schools/
North CarolinaAssessment Reform Activists Push Back Against State’s Plan for In-Person Standardized Exams
https://www.change.org/p/governor-roy-cooper-keep-high-school-students-safe-waive-end-of-course-eoc-exams
North Carolina Pressure Grows to Overturn Testing Mandate
https://www.wral.com/concerns-grow-over-mandate-to-administer-standardized-tests-in-person-during-coronavirus-pandemic/19418708/
OhioState K-12 Tests Could Be Waived Again This Spring
https://www.journal-news.com/news/state-k-12-tests-could-be-waived-again-this-spring/CWDAMJQN6FFDXCQMDHMUYDEPWQ/
PennsylvaniaStandardized Tests Only Add to Student Stress
https://lancasteronline.com/opinion/columnists/standardized-tests-only-add-to-students-stress-column/article_f35489f6-3574-11eb-b662-5b9e9df902f9.html
South CarolinaTeachers List Standardized Exam Reductions Among Top Priorities in 2021 Legislative Agenda
https://scnow.com/news/local/palmetto-state-teachers-association-unveils-2021-legislative-agenda/article_87523954-335f-11eb-b0d3-17ea88ffbff5.html
TennesseeParents Worried About Mandatory, In-Person School Exams
https://www.wkrn.com/community/health/coronavirus/sumner-county-parents-worried-about-mandatory-in-person-exams/
TexasDallas May Waive District’s End of Course Exam Requirement
https://ourcommunitynow.com/travel/dallas-students-wont-have-to-stress-over-final-exams-if-disd-eases-rules-because-of-covid-19
Texas Students Learning Remotely Forced to Return to School to Take State Tests
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/education-news/2020/12/07/387257/texas-high-school-students-to-return-to-campus-for-states-end-of-course-exams/
University AdmissionsMore Than a Third of Business Schools No Longer Require the GMAT
https://poetsandquants.com/2020/12/02/more-than-a-third-of-b-schools-no-longer-require-the-gmat/?pq-category=admissions
Worth ReadingDoes Your School Suffer From Advanced Testivitis?
http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2020/12/does-your-school-suffer-from-advanced.html
Bob Schaeffer, interim Executive Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing
office-(239) 395-6773 mobile-(239) 699-0468
web-http://www.fairtest.org