It’s time to ratchet up pressure on federal and state officials to cancel K-12 standardized exams in spring 2021. Make sure that all your friends and allies have joined the 10,000+ parents, teachers and community leaders who have already signed the “National Call to Suspend High-Stakes Testing.” The petition will be delivered to Miguel Cardona, once he is confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Education:
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/suspend-high-stakes-student-testing
If you have not done so already, be sure to watch the video of FairTest’s “Assessment Reform Town Hall” featuring U.S. House Education Committee Vice Chair, Representative Jamaal Bowman
https://youtu.be/pzZjtg6ODs8
And, make sure your state is in the process of filing a federal waiver request — see New York’s model below
National Resuming Standardized Testing This Spring Would Be Foolhardy
https://hechingerreport.org/opinion-resuming-universal-standardized-testing-in-americas-public-schools-would-be-foolhardy/
Florida Parents Promise Opt-Out Movement If State Resumes School Testing
https://www.tampabay.com/news/education/2021/02/11/florida-schools-will-resume-state-testing-in-person-some-say-no-way/
Indiana District School Chiefs Call for Cancelling State Tests This Year
https://in.chalkbeat.org/2021/2/10/22277254/nine-marion-county-school-chiefs-call-for-canceling-indiana-testing
Massachusetts School Committee Unanimously Endorses Call for Standardized Exam Suspension
https://www.recorder.com/Greenfield-School-Committee-signs-resolution-against-holding-MCAS-testing-this-year-38817262
Michigan State Requests Federal Test Waiver
https://www.sentinel-standard.com/story/news/education/2021/01/26/michigan-asks-for-waiver-of-standardized-testing-for-2021/115364366/
Michigan Schools Call on State to Suspend It’s Own Exam Requirements
https://www.monroenews.com/story/news/education/2021/02/10/schools-urge-state-suspend-teacher-student-testing/4451453001/
New Jersey State Delays Testing Schedule to Allow Time to Seek Federal Waiver
https://newark.chalkbeat.org/2021/2/12/22279917/new-jersey-delay-state-tests-2021
New Jersey Pressure Builds on Governor to Drop “Ridiculous” Standardized Exams Completely
https://nj1015.com/murphy-pressured-to-drop-ridiculous-school-standardized-test/
New Mexico Public Education Department Seeks Testing Waiver: High-Stakes Test Data Would Be Invalid in Pandemic
https://losalamosreporter.com/2021/02/09/public-education-department-seeks-waiver-to-pause-spring-student-assessment/
New York State Seeks Standardized Testing Waiver
https://www.news10.com/classroom-progress-report/nysed-submits-federal-waivers-to-forego-required-testing-in-2020-2021-school-year/
New York Formal Waiver Request Submitted to U.S. Department of Education
http://www.nysed.gov/essa/assessment-and-accountability-waivers
Ohio Districts Support Plan to Lift Annual Testing Mandate During Pandemic
https://www.wdtn.com/news/miami-valley-school-districts-support-plan-to-halt-standardized-tests-to-alleviate-pandemic-related-challenges/
Oklahoma Call Off This Year’s State Tests
https://tulsaworld.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-call-off-the-state-tests-standardized-testing-only-enriches-the-test-companies-and-has/article_e5e81e1e-6a0c-11eb-820d-5b4a8573e678.html
Texas Online Students Won’t Have to Take Spring 2021 State Tests, Commissioner Says
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/Texas-Education-Commissioner-online-staar-test-15943346.php
Washington De-emphasize Standardized Tests for a More Human-Centered Education System
https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/opinion/opinion-rufus-woods-toward-a-more-human-centered-education-system/article_be7904e8-6047-11eb-a2bf-df09033a5b55.html
University Admissions Two Thirds of “Top 100” Business Schools Waiver GMAT/GRE Requirement
https://poetsandquants.com/2021/02/10/notre-dames-mba-programs-go-test-optional/
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