Assessment reform stories from more than a third of all 50 states in just the past week demonstrate the breadth and depth of the movement to replace standardized exam overkill with better forms of assessment. FairTest staff stands ready to assist local activists with their campaigns — just contact us via email or phone.
NationalHow “No Child Left Behind” Is Still Destroying Reading for Young Children
https://nancyebailey.com/2019/02/12/how-nclb-is-still-destroying-reading-for-children-%ef%bb%bf/
ArkansasControl of Little Rock Public Schools Hangs on a Single Standardized Exam
https://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2019/02/16/accountability-the-future-of-the-little-rock-school-district-hangs-on-a-test-at-charter-schools-on-the-other-hand
ColoradoDenver Teachers Strike Won End to Test-Based “Performance Pay”
https://theconversation.com/striking-teachers-in-denver-shut-down-performance-bonuses-heres-how-that-will-impact-denver-schools-111818
FloridaGovernor Plans to Eliminate Common Core, But Will Testing Overkill Subside?
https://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20190216/lane-desantis-roots-out-common-core-but-whats-next
Florida Early Childhood Educators Resist Kindergarten Readiness Assessment
https://www.deyproject.org/denishas-blog/i-am-ready-how-florida-early-childhood-educators-resist-the-misuse-of-kindergarten-readiness-assessment
GeorgiaTeacher Blames Education Policy Makers for Atlanta Cheating Scandal
https://www.wrvo.org/post/former-teacher-blames-education-policymakers-atlanta-cheating-scandal
IllinoisPARCC Ended and Testing Time Cut by One Third
http://www.wsiltv.com/story/39961101/new-assessment-testing-for-students-grades-3-8
Illinois State Set Unrealistic Goals Under ESSA
http://understandingessa.org/essa-implementation-illinois-and-student-outcome-requirements/
IndianaParents, Educators Debate Civics Testing Bill
https://www.newsandtribune.com/news/southern-indiana-parents-educators-debate-civics-test-requirement-bill/article_5321350e-30a0-11e9-8e97-47645c3c3489.html
MassachusettsTake a Lesson From Los Angeles: Less Standardized Testing
https://commonwealthmagazine.org/opinion/lesson-from-la-less-standardized-testing/
New JerseyState Reaches Interim Deal to Replace Graduation Test Court Threw Out
https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/2019/02/15/nj-reaches-deal-over-graduation-parcc-testing-education-law-center/2879823002/
New MexicoState Seeks Input on Replacement for Test-Driven School Grades
https://www.abqjournal.com/1280980/ped-plans-big-changes-to-prior-reforms.html
New YorkUse of Graduation Pathways with Fewer Test Hurdles Slowly Growing
https://dailygazette.com/article/2019/02/16/adoption-of-new-graduation-pathways-remains-slow-in-capital-region
OhioOngoing Struggle to Eliminate Harmful Obama-Duncan Testing “Reforms” from State Law
https://janresseger.wordpress.com/2019/02/13/18874/
OregonToo Young to Test Campaign Advances
https://dianeravitch.net/2019/02/18/oregon-fight-builds-for-too-young-to-test-bill/
South CarolinaHundreds of Parents, Teachers, Students Flood State House to Press for Testing Reform
https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/teachers-parents-vent-to-sc-lawmakers-about-problems-with-education/article_3d790c04-2ef7-11e9-9f34-af521f16fcd3.html
TexasDon’t Tie Teacher Pay to Student Test Scores
https://www.theeagle.com/opinion/columnists/don-t-tie-teacher-merit-pay-to-test-scores/article_7d48a72e-2f40-11e9-b02a-2bb50ddcce74.html
UtahLegislature Tries to Reduce High Exam Opt-Out Rates
https://kutv.com/news/local/90-million-in-federal-money-for-utah-schools-at-risk-from-standardized-test-opt-out-rates
Utah Bill Would Eliminate School Grades
https://www.parkrecord.com/news/education/proposed-bill-in-utah-legislature-would-eliminate-school-grades/
VermontWhy Most Education Reforms Do Not Work Very Well
https://vtdigger.org/2019/02/14/william-mathis-educational-reforms-not-work-well/
West VirginiaStudents and Teachers Are More Than Test Scores
https://www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/daily_mail_opinion/commentary/sonya-ashby-students-and-teachers-are-more-than-test-scores/article_2713970c-e6f9-5d3f-b58c-f1aea7930da3.html
InternationalTesting Systems: Finland vs the U.S.
https://bigthink.com/politics-current-affairs/standardized-tests-finlands-education-system-vs-the-u-s
International Scotland The Flaws of National Testing
https://www.tes.com/news/national-testing-we-warned-it-wouldnt-work
University AdmissionsFerris State in Michigan is Latest Addition to Test-Optional List
https://www.ferris.edu/admissions/test-optional/homepage.htm
University Admissions More Schools Will Become Test-Optional
https://www.chronicle.com/interactives/horizon
Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director
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