Testing Resistance & Reform News: February 22 – 28, 2017

You can tell that testing season is on the horizon when there’s assessment reform news from more than a third of the states in just one week. You can connect to other local activists by using the resources at:
https://fairtest.orgdata.com.org/get_involved

Alabama Future of ACT Aspire Testing in Limbo
http://www.decaturdaily.com/news/local/act-aspire-s-future-in-limbo/arti…

California State Studies Ways to Improve Measures of School Climate
https://edsource.org/2017/california-examines-how-and-why-to-improve-its…

Connecticut Smarter Balanced Test Scores Will Be Misused for Teacher Evaluation
http://jonathanpelto.com/2017/02/22/opt-fact-sbac-test-will-unfairly-use…

Florida Schools Seek Common Sense in Testing
http://www.newsherald.com/news/20170222/bay-schools-seek-common-sense-in…
Florida Testing Cutback a Good Idea
http://www.bradenton.com/opinion/editorials/article134800864.html

Indiana Board Leaders Advocate Dashboards to Replace Test-Based School Grades
http://www.jconline.com/story/news/education/2017/02/22/school-boards-se…

Massachusetts “Defies Measurement” Film Screening by Local Education Group
https://www.facebook.com/events/1850663231873085/

Minnesota Testing is Not Teaching, And Kids Are Not Standardized
http://www.postbulletin.com/life/lifestyles/sidney-clarke-testing-is-not…

Nevada Teachers Say Test-Based Evaluation is “Unfair and Inhumane”
https://lasvegassun.com/news/2017/feb/25/teachers-describe-states-evalua…

New Jersey Future of PARCC Remains Uncertain
http://www.towntopics.com/wordpress/2017/02/22/future-of-parcc-remains-u…

New Mexico In Year Three of PARCC, Some Dream of Alternative Assessments
http://kunm.org/post/year-three-parcc-some-dream-alternate-assessments
New Mexico Evaluating Teacher Evaluations
http://kunm.org/post/evaluating-teacher-evals-new-mexico

Ohio Educators Demand Testing Cut in State’s ESSA Plan
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/02/halt_ohios_essa_plan_un…

Oregon Graduation Civics Test is Not Needed
http://www.bendbulletin.com/opinion/5097513-151/editorial-dont-require-a…

South Carolina Superintendent Criticizes State’s Testing, School Grading Proposal
http://www.chronicle-independent.com/section/45/article/46778/

Tennessee State Will Halve Science and Social Studies Testing for Early Grades
http://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/tn/2017/02/22/tennessee-will-halve-scienc…

Texas Districts Oppose State School Grading Scale
http://www.newschannel6now.com/story/34579785/wfisd-files-resolution-to-…
Texas Education Experts Say New School Accountability System is Flawed
https://communityimpact.com/austin/education/2017/02/27/a-f-system-ignit…

Utah House Votes to Eliminate Test-Based School Letter Grades
http://www.sltrib.com/home/4980718-155/house-votes-to-eliminate-letter-g…

Washington School Leaders Say Standardized Testing Is Out of Control
http://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/standardized-tests-out-of-control-in-st…

West Virginia Elimination of Smarter Balanced Tests Is Welcome
http://www.newsandsentinel.com/opinion/editorials/2017/02/education-chan…

University Admissions Will New SAT Rules Actually Stymie Cheating?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/02/22/college-b…
University Admissions New SAT Security Rules Leave Barn Door for Cheaters Wide Open
https://fairtest.orgdata.com.org/cheating-barn-door-left-open-new-sat-security-rule
University Admissions Some George Washington University Grad Programs Are Now Test-Optional
https://www.gwhatchet.com/2017/02/26/environmental-policy-program-goes-t…

Worth Reading Performance Assessment as an Equity Strategy
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/classroom_qa_with_larry_ferlazzo/2017/0…
Worth Reading No Child Left Behind Was a Deeply Flawed Federal Policy
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pam.21978/full

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