Welcome to the first weekly issue of FairTest’s “Testing Resistance & Reform News” of 2020! Our new year’s resolution is to increase coverage of initiatives, trends and tools that help parents, students, educators, community leaders and policy makers replace standardized exam misuse and overuse with better forms of assessment. Please send us links to articles and materials you think would be useful for allies by replying to this message.
Many thanks to all the activists who contributed to our successful year-end fundraising campaign. You can still help support testing reform in 2020 by making a secure donation here:
or by mailing your check to FairTest, 196 Spring Street, Arlington, MA 02476
District of Columbia Mandatory Minimum Test Score Hurdle for Selective High Schools Eliminated
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dc-is-right-to-remove-barriers-for-selective-schools-but-they-shouldnt-lower-the-bar/2019/12/27/57ba156e-17b2-11ea-a659-7d69641c6ff7_story.html
Florida Thousands of Teachers May Receive Money From Lawsuit Against Test-Based Bonuses
https://www.wftv.com/news/local/orange-county/thousands-florida-teachers-may-receive-money-class-action-lawsuit/KMXFGVNGXJGHROWXBRM6CF3Z3Q/
Florida Students Don’t Need a Test to Turn Civic Education Into Lifelong Learning
https://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/20191229/editorial-florida-students-needs-more-than-test-to-turn-civics-education-into-lifelong-learning
Idaho Two Years In, Parents and Educators Still Confused by New Reading Screening Test
https://magicvalley.com/news/local/education/two-years-in-teachers-are-still-learning-about-idaho-s/article_b0040a20-be40-5e5d-bfb0-3a7d7ebe6d1f.html
Indiana “Federal Accountability Ratings” Issued by State Add to Testing Confusion
https://www.nwitimes.com/news/education/state-releases-federal-accountability-ratings-for-indiana-schools-here-s/article_23cfa4c9-0f02-538e-a766-51abe180f411.html
Indiana Bill Would Hold Schools Harmless From Punishment Based on New Test Scores
https://fox59.com/2020/01/03/state-lawmaker-looks-to-hold-schools-and-teachers-harmless-from-new-ilearn-test/
New York Battle Over Access to “Gifted” Education
https://www.economist.com/united-states/2020/01/05/a-battle-over-gifted-education-is-brewing-in-america
Ohio The Big Lies of School Accountability Did Not Close the Achievement Gap
https://www.tdn-net.com/opinion/columns/76685/lies-lies-and-more-lies
Ohio School Grading System Has Got to Go
https://www.toledoblade.com/opinion/editorials/2020/01/02/school-grade-cards-gotta-go-ohio-toledo-public-schools-report-card/stories/20191219152
Pennsylvania A Decade of Test-Driven Ed.”Reform” Baloney
http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2019/12/the-ground-level-ed-reform-decade.html
Tennessee Focus on Testing Diverts Funds From Real School Needs
https://www.wbir.com/article/news/education/tennessee-lawmakers-discuss-the-future-of-state-education-and-funding/51-4d315cac-e50e-4014-a5ff-1ceb49d2cf28
Vermont Moratorium on School Testing Needed
https://www.benningtonbanner.com/stories/don-keelan-can-there-be-a-moratorium-on-standardized-school-testing,593827
Utah No Grade on State’s School Report Due to Testing Irregularities
https://www.deseret.com/utah/2019/12/30/21024730/utah-school-report-cards-letter-grades
University Admissions Revolutionary Thinking — Many Colleges Let Applicants Out Out of ACT/SAT Exams
https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2020/0106/Revolutionary-thinking-Colleges-let-students-opt-out-of-admissions-exams
University Admissions Many Graduate Programs No Longer Require GRE Scores
https://tucson.com/news/local/many-ua-graduate-programs-no-longer-require-gre-scores-from/article_a86a5bd1-19ff-5e40-910a-cdf8fd7e8b74.html
University Admissions Upcoming Changes to ACT will Only Accelerate Test Prep Arms Race
https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/views/2020/01/06/college-admissions-testing-becoming-more-arms-race-opinion
International Bangladesh When Exams Hurt Children
https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/education-0/news/when-examinations-hurt-children-1849477
International Canada Why Foundational Skills Assessments Should Be Scrapped
http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/opinion/article_e5b310a2-30e2-11ea-90b1-3b617d55fef9.html
International Taiwan Fixation on Testing Must End
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2020/01/07/2003728823
Worth Reading Edspeak and Doubletalk: A Glossary to Decipher Hypocrisy and Save Public Schooling
http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-ed-reform-glossary-you-need.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