Testing Resistance & Reform News — December 7 – 13, 2016

With the 2016-2017 school testing season right around the year-end, holiday vacation corner — some states start administering their annual exams in February — the pace of assessment reform news is accelerating. Parents, teachers, administrators and, increasingly, policy-makers now recognize that current school testing policies undermine educational quality and equity. Many are pushing for significant changes through local, state and national campaigns.

To help your friends and allies stay on top of this rapidly growing movement during the coming year, please have them sign-up for a free subscription to these weekly “Testing Resistance & Reform News” updates athttps://fairtest.orgdata.com.org/weekly-news-signup

NationalTime to End Testing Overkill
http://www.p21.org/news-events/p21blog/2102-time-to-end-testing-overkill?platform=hootsuite

National Using ESSA to Advance Educational Opportunity — Report and Webinar
https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/press-release/equity-essa-new-report-how-states-districts-schools-can-use-new-law

ArizonaComplexities Slow Development of New School Grading Plan
http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-education/2016/12/07/abcs-why-s-taking-so-long-grade-arizonas-schools/93206116/

CaliforniaState Can Save Half a Billion Annually By Canceling Exit Exam
http://skrashen.blogspot.com/2016/12/how-california-can-save-550-million-year.html

ColoradoFlaws in Test-Based Comparisons
http://www.coloradoan.com/story/opinion/2016/12/09/letter-school-testing-flawed/95102760/

ConnecticutSchool Experiments with Performance Assessment
http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/metro_standardized_testing/

FloridaLegislature May Move on Assessment Reform This Year
http://www.bradenton.com/opinion/editorials/article119246508.html

Florida Test-Based Teacher Evaluations Remain Inconsistent
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article119791683.html

GeorgiaSuperintendents Criticize A-to-F School Grading System
http://www.athensreview.com/news/local_news/local-isds-endorse-opposition-letter/article_c700f946-bd93-11e6-95b0-7f4d414a39ad.html

IllinoisDistrict Relies on In-House Assessments, Not PARCC
http://www.saukvalley.com/2016/12/09/sterling-district-relies-on-in-house-assessments-accolades-not-parcc/ae7z4tr/

IndianaEducational Testing Should Not Be All About Politics
http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/2016/12/13/education_shouldnt_be_all_about_politics/

LouisianaGovernor’s Advisory Board Seeks Fewer Exams, Less Test-Based Teacher Evaluation
http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/education/article_238395c8-bca1-11e6-b9a9-af4e2ea47a0e.html

MassachusettsState Should be Open to “Radical Changes” as it Rethinks Assessment
https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/letters/2016/12/13/state-looks-beyond-school-test-scores-need-open-radical-changes/VSUP08V4yxuZXE7cki1gxN/story.html

New JerseyNew Data Raise Concern About PARCC Grad Test Requirement Fairness
http://www.nj.com/education/2016/12/are_njs_high_school_graduation_parcc_rules_unfair.html

New YorkFilm, “Tested” Dissects Exam School Admission
http://www.testedfilm.com/about-the-film/

OklahomaSuperintendents Continue Pressing for Overhaul of School Grading System
http://www.sequoyahcountytimes.com/news/article_402ff904-be41-11e6-bf93-e7cac32ccdb8.html

PennsylvaniaNew School Rating System to Reduce Emphasis on Standardized Exams
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-pa-replace-school-performance-profiles-20161205-story.html

TennesseeHow Testing, Accountability Might Change Under New Federal Law
http://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/tn/2016/12/06/heres-a-first-look-at-how-tennessee-schools-could-change-under-new-federal-law/

TexasTest-Based School Grades Are Oversimplified
http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2016-12-09/west-warns-new-school-ratings-oversimplified

Texas State Denies Special Education Services but Expects Kids to Pass Tests
http://keranews.org/post/parents-special-education-kids-give-authorities-earful-richardson-meeting

West VirginiaEducators Take Issue with Over-Simplistic School Grading System
http://www.theet.com/news/free/boe-education-association-take-issue-with-school-grading-system-perry/article_d7126947-e090-5b64-9b79-5c82f10a8109.html

College AdmissionsTest Maker Faces Rocky Path After New Leader Pushes SAT Overhaul
http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/latestnews/2016/12/12/Special-Report-College-Board-faces-rocky-path-after-CEO-pushes-new-vision-SAT

Worth ReadingThe Folly of “A to F” School Grading Schemes
http://russonreading.blogspot.com/2016/12/the-mis-measure-of-schools-and-school.html

Worth Reading What Do the Tests Measure?
http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2016/12/what-do-tests-measure.html

Tags: