Testing Resistance & Reform News: January 11 – 17, 2017

As FairTest’s first-generation leaders move toward retirement., the organization has begun the process of planning for a smooth transition. The first step is hiring a consultant to develop a new strategic plan to make the assessment reform movement even more effective. Working with current staff, board, and other stakeholders, the ideal candidate will also be interested in taking over as FairTest’s executive director in 2018. For details, see:


https://fairtest.orgdata.com.org/postion-available-fulltime-strategic-planning-cons

NationalJanuary 19Day of Action to Reclaim Our Schools Includes Demands to Reduce Testing Overuse
http://www.reclaimourschools.org/january-19-day-resistance

National States Expanding Tool Kit to Assess School Quality Under ESSA
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2017/01/04/states-preparing-expanded-toolkit-in-assessment-of.html

National How to Support Public Education Under Trump
http://fusion.net/story/380415/surviving-trump-america-education/amp/

AlabamaGrading the Test Graders; Legislature Gets an “F” for School Ratings
http://www.timesdaily.com/opinion/editorials/grading-the-graders-legislature-gets-an-f/article_143eb673-e0e8-5870-a356-7a06a32b155c.html

CaliforniaState School Board Chooses New Ways to Measure Academic Progress
https://edsource.org/2017/state-board-chooses-new-way-of-measuring-school-progress-on-tests/575256

California New School Dashboard to Monitor Student Achievement
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/education/sd-me-school-dashboard-20170113-story.html

ColoradoStudents Stage a Satirical Take on Testing
http://www.aspentimes.com/entertainment/activities-events/aspen-high-school-students-stage-a-satirical-take-on-testing/

DelawareSuperintendent Candidate Urges Parents to Opt Out
https://exceptionaldelaware.wordpress.com/2017/01/12/uncle-sam-wants-you-to-opt-out/

FloridaLegislature Considers Ways to Ease School Testing
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/education/fl-testing-florida-legislature-20170109-story.html

Florida A Bad Model for DeVos-Style School “Reform”
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/os-betsy-devos-florida-vouchers-scott-maxwell-20170114-column.html

Florida Is State Taking a Turn Toward Sanity?
http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/romano-whoa-did-florida-just-take-a-turn-toward-sanity-on-education/2309291

GeorgiaState Reduces Testing to Stem Tide of Teachers Leaving Profession
http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/section/6/article/121354/

IndianaEducators React to Potential Delay in Replacing Discredited Exam
http://wlfi.com/2017/01/11/local-educators-react-to-possible-istep-replacement-delay/

Indiana Test-Based School Grades Called “Irrelevant”
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/indiana/District-grades-called–irrelevant–17228879

Indiana Educators, Lawmakers Urge End to Basing Teacher Evaluations on Test Scores
http://www.wibc.com/news/local-news/teachers-lawmakers-urge-ending-connection-between-istep-scores-and-teacher

IowaGovernor Seeks “Hold” on Move to Smarter Balanced Exams
http://whotv.com/2017/01/12/branstad-asks-for-hold-on-move-to-new-education-exams/

LouisianaGovernor’s Panel Recommends Dropping School Letter Grades
http://www.houmatoday.com/news/20170113/state-panel-suggests-dropping-public-school-letter-grades

North CarolinaScores Are Not Only Measure of Academic Achievement
http://www.citizen-times.com/story/opinion/readers/2017/01/13/letter-scores-arent-only-measure-achievement/96531204/

OklahomaOne-Size-Fits-All “Accountability” Creates Destructive Cycle
https://nondoc.com/2017/01/12/accountability-creates-destructive-cycle/

TennesseeOnline Testing May Be Hurting Some Children
http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/2017/01/11/online-testing-may-hurting-some-children/96203010/

TexasParents, Educators Say “Ignore Stupid School Letter Grades”
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2017/01/10/texas-teachers-parents-pundits-blast-new-good-bad-f-grades-schools

Texas State Needs to Toss Out Standardized Testing
https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2017/jan/14/texas-needs-to-toss-out-standardized-testing/

Texas Houston Schools Suspend Use of Test Scores to Determine Grade Retention
http://www.chron.com/news/article/HISD-trustees-vote-to-suspend-the-use-of-test-10854602.php

VirginiaTesting Does Not Equate with Educating
http://www.dailyprogress.com/starexponent/opinion/letter-testing-doesn-t-equate-with-educating/article_14964fae-9a03-5a01-b9b4-fa235afbf5eb.html

WashingtonSchools Tracking Absences as Non-Test Indicator of Academic Progress
http://www.seattletimes.com/education-lab/washingtons-plan-for-every-student-succeeds-act-look-at-attendance-as-well-as-test-scores/

West VirginiaWe Can Do Better Than Faulty A to F School Grades
http://www.wvgazettemail.com/gazette-op-ed-commentaries/20170114/greg-prudich-wv-must-do-better-than-faulty-a-f-grades-for-schools

West Virginia State Board of Ed Considers Replacing Smarter Balanced Tests
http://www.wvgazettemail.com/news-education/20170111/wv-may-move-away-from-smarter-balanced-tests

InternationalCanada Effective Education Goes Beyond Multiple Choice
http://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/letters/effective-education-goes-beyond-multiple-choice-1.7071427

College AdmissionsShould Biomedical Graduate Schools Ignore GRE Scores
http://phys.org/news/2017-01-biomedical-schools-gre.html

Worth ReadingHow Test-Driven School “Reform” Hurts Low-Income Young Children
https://www.deyproject.org/uploads/1/5/5/7/15571834/teachersspeakfinal_rgb.pdf

Worth Reading Fairness is Elephant in the Room for “Value-Added” Teacher Assessment
http://vamboozled.com/the-elephant-in-the-room-fairness/

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