Testing Resistance & Reform News: December 9 - 15, 2020
The test-and-punish crowd is already backing down in the face of a growing movement to suspend this year's standardized exams. They still want to mandate state and local tests (even though the federal government has cancelled its own National Assessment of Academic Progress because of health concerns) but now claim they do not want to attach consequences to the results. Keep the pressure on to lift all standardized exam mandates by joining the thousands of parents, educators and activists signing the "National Call to Suspend High-Stakes Testing in Spring 2021"
At the same time, please support FairTest's national assessment reform leadership as part of your year-end giving contributions:
Indiana State Ed Board to Reconsider Role of Standardized Tests in School Ratings
https://www.mdjonline.com/neighbor_newspapers/extra/news/state-board-to-consider-a-f-accountability-revisions-next-month/article_75b8ffed-671d-5680-b69d-f1bbce587cd4.html
Massachusetts Common Sense to Postpone State Testing This Year
https://www.recorder.com/Common-sense-to-postpone-MCAS-this-year-37733258
Michigan Student Contracts COVID-19 After Being Required to Return to School to Take Graduation Requirement Test
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2020/12/09/covid-bloomfield-hills-high-school-student-sat-test/6494743002/
Missouri Standardized Testing Results Won't Be Used for Accountability
https://www.missourinet.com/2020/12/09/missouri-k-12-statewide-testing-to-move-forward-but-results-wont-be-used-for-accountability-purposes/
New Jersey Is It Fair to Rate Teachers Based on Students' Test Scores During Pandemic?
https://newark.chalkbeat.org/2020/12/9/22165845/newark-teacher-evaluations-sgo-pandemic
North Carolina COVID Cases Rising as Students Return to School for Mandatory, In-Person Standardized Exams
https://greensboro.com/covid-cases-are-rising-as-nc-high-school-students-take-required-in-person-state-exams/article_70734d9e-3a36-11eb-bcad-b7734534b173.html
North Carolina "Standardized" Testing in a Non-Standard Time Makes No Sense
https://www.smokymountainnews.com/opinion/item/30414-standardized-testing-in-a-non-standard-time
Ohio Ed Disrupters Still Want Their Big Test
http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2020/12/oh-reformsters-want-their-big-test.html
Pennsylvania Will Parents Be Expected to Administered District-Required Tests at Home?
https://gadflyonthewallblog.com/2020/12/12/will-pa-schools-ask-parents-to-oversee-cdt-testing-at-home/
Tennessee Governor May Call Special Session to Address Standardized Testing, Other COVID-Related Education Issues
https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/politics/2020/12/08/tennessee-legislature-education-bills-special-session-bill-lee-learning-loss/6494619002/
Texas This Year's Test Scores Will Not Count in School Ratings
https://www.texastribune.org/2020/12/10/texas-staar-tests-school-ratings/
Texas Educators Demand End to In-Person Standardized Testing
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/12/12/txrf-d12.html
Texas Take State Test Out of the Equation; Kids Are Already Having to Cope with Too Much
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/Rhor-Take-STAAR-out-of-the-equation-Kids-are-15782668.php
Virginia Selective Public High School to Drop Admissions Test
https://wtop.com/fairfax-county/2020/12/fairfax-co-tweaks-options-for-admission-to-prestigious-thomas-jefferson-high-school/
University Admissions The Immense Impact of the Decline of Standardized Testing
https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/views/2020/12/14/decline-standardized-testing-affects-more-testing-opinion
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