Though many states are cutting back on standardized exam overkill, there are still frequent reports of test cheating, inappropriate high-stakes, and narrowed curriculum, along with stressed out kids (and educators). It’s time for K-12 policymakers to replace failed requirements with better forms of assessment just as their higher education colleagues are doing with ACT/SAT-optional undergraduate policies and GRExit graduate admissions.
National Three Seasons of the School Year: Learning, Test Prep, Testing
https://grumpyoldteacher.com/2020/02/29/the-three-seasons-of-the-school-year/
Florida Psychologists Say Many Children Suffer From “Test Stress”
https://www.news4jax.com/features/2020/02/28/many-children-teens-suffer-from-test-stress-psychologists-say/
Illinois School Board Clashes with Independent Watchdog Over Computerized Exam Irregularities
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200227/cps-board-watchdog-spar-over-test-irregularities
Illinois Social-Emotional Development More Important Than Boosting Test Scores
https://hechingerreport.org/early-research-focuses-on-schools-that-develop-students-social-emotional-qualities/
Kansas Civic Education Should Be More Than a Test
https://www.sjnewsonline.com/opinion/20200227/editorial-civics-education-must-be-more-than-high-school-test
Louisiana Testing Irregularities Are Widespread in New Orleans Schools
https://www.nola.com/news/education/article_c39705a4-533e-11ea-bfd0-17f03dcb873b.html
Maine Teachers Not Fans of State Assessments
https://www.ellsworthamerican.com/maine-news/education-news/meas-score-low-with-educators/
Michigan Why Third Grade Reading Test Retention Law Does Not Work
https://www.freep.com/story/opinion/columnists/nancy-kaffer/2020/02/28/michigan-reading-grade-three-law/4728001002/
New York At Local Forums, Parents Discuss Changing High School Graduation Requirements
https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2020/02/27/if-high-school-graduation-requirements-change–it-may-come-from-here
Ohio Districts Develop Local Graduation Requirements in Place of Standardized Tests
https://www.record-courier.com/news/20200301/districts-develop-local-seals-for-new-graduation-requirements
Texas Standardized Tests a Poor Yardstick
https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/commentary/article/Commentary-Standardized-tests-a-poor-yardstick-15093507.php
Texas Districts Developing Home-Grown “True Accountability” Systems
https://communityimpact.com/austin/georgetown/education/2020/02/28/community-offers-guidance-on-georgetown-isd-true-accountability-system/
Wisconsin Standardized Testing and Tracking Fail to Lift Up Individual Students
https://www.dailycardinal.com/article/2020/02/tracking-standardized-testing-fail-to-uplift-individual-learning-empower-students
University Admission Chapman Drops ACT/SAT Exam Requirement, Joins Test-Optional Movement
https://www.oc-breeze.com/2020/03/02/178394_chapman-university-to-go-test-optional-starting-fall-2021/
University Admission Close to 1,100 Colleges and Universities Now Have ACT/SAT-Optional Policies
https://fairtest.org.org/university/optional
University Admissions Graduate Schools Moving Away From Reliance on Standardized Exams
http://www.technicianonline.com/news/article_952bb5fa-5836-11ea-9f24-335394e2b8a8.html
Worth Reading Don’t Call It Education “Reform”
https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/dont-call-it-reform
Worth Reading Is edTPA Assessment Standing in the Way of Getting More Teachers into Classrooms?
https://www.educationdive.com/news/is-edtpa-standing-in-the-way-of-getting-more-teachers-into-classrooms/572969/
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