Key components of the test-and-punish agenda continue to collapse from their inherent weaknesses combined with strong pushback from parents, educators and community leaders. This week’s stories show policy makers in many states responding to the flaws of “A to F” school grades, test-score-driven teacher evaluations, and high school graduation exams by implementing new policies that move toward broader forms of assessment.
National Grassroots Assessment Reform Movement is Bubbling Up Around the Country
https://mets2006.wordpress.com/2018/12/09/the-assessment-wars-is-a-grassroots-revolution-bubbling-up-across-the-nation-opposing-punitive-annual-testing/
California School “Dashboard” Updated with Multiple Measures of Performance
https://www.timesheraldonline.com/2018/12/06/state-launches-updated-school-dashboard/
Connecticut The Real Lesson About Educational “Failure”
https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Wendy-Lecker-The-real-lesson-about-education-13434370.php
Maryland New School Ratings Show What We Already Knew: Wealthier Communities Get Higher Scores
https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bs-ed-1205-maryland-school-rankings-20181204-story.html
Michigan Bill to “Grade” Public Schools Is a Horrible Idea
https://www.bridgemi.com/guest-commentary/opinion-bill-grade-michigan-schools-f-horrible-idea
Minnesota Standardized Testing Ignores Student Diversity
https://www.shsoutherner.net/opinion/2018/12/06/no-consideration-for-diversity-in-standardized-testing/
New York Plan for Test-Based Teacher Evaluation Delayed Again
https://buffalonews.com/2018/12/10/state-delays-plan-to-tie-teacher-evaluations-to-student-test-results/
New York Former Test Designer Critiques Standardized Exams
https://www.lohud.com/story/opinion/perspective/2018/12/10/statistics-wiz-talks-new-yorks-common-core-era-testing-and-jets/2213253002/
Ohio Legislature Continues Relaxed Graduation Requirements
https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/graduation-changes-finally-clear-full-legislature-schools-seniors-have-six-months-react/ajKmiUCrF0z7CBWXFWSCNN/
South Carolina District Tries to Make Sense of State’s New School Report Cards
http://www.coastalobserver.com/articles/2018/120618/3.html
Tennessee School Report Cards Flawed by Reliance on Failed State Exams
https://www.tullahomanews.com/news/local/schools-report-card-flawed-in-the-wake-of-tnready-failures/article_15708416-fa64-11e8-8c37-ab3d49392624.html
Texas State “A to F” School Grades Show Strong Link to Community Poverty
https://communityimpact.com/houston/tomball-magnolia/education/2018/12/06/texas-education-agencys-a-f-accountability-ratings-reveal-link-to-poverty/
Utah State Will End Giving Letter Grades to Schools
https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900045601/no-more-letter-grades-when-utah-board-rolls-out-new-report-cards-for-schools-jan-3.html
University Admission Texas’ “Top 10%” Guaranteed Plan Increased Admission of High-Talent, Low-Income Students
https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2018/12/10/study-finds-key-impact-guaranteed-admissions-enrollment-disadvantaged
University Admission Brown University Students Walk Out, Call for Test-Optional Policy
http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20181204/walkout-planned-to-protest-enrollment-practices-at-brown-university
Worth Reading New Research Shows Test-Induced Stress Most Impacts Disadvantaged Students
http://notesfromthechalkboard.com/2018/12/05/new-study-finds-that-stress-caused-by-high-stakes-testing-disproportionately-impacts-students-of-poverty/