Testing Resistance & Reform News: January 15 – 21, 2020

Most 2020 state legislative sessions are now underway. Let your representatives know that it’s time to roll back standardized exam mandates to the federal minimum and stop test score misuses for grade promotion, high school graduation, district rankings, teacher bonuses and the like. This is an election year, so public officials are paying particular attention to voters’ concerns!

Arizona School Grades Don’t Tell the Whole Story
https://www.tucsonlocalmedia.com/marana/article_82217d9a-36e5-11ea-b773-9b70166456da.html

Colorado Denver Recommends Ending Test-Driven School Ranking System
https://www.denverpost.com/2020/01/21/denver-public-schools-performance-framework/

Florida State Teachers Association Takes Strong Position on Testing
https://feaweb.org/issues-action/testing/
Florida Student Moved to Special Class to Avoid Lowering School’s Test Score Average
https://www.heraldtribune.com/opinion/20200117/guest-editorial-sarasota-schools-offer-no-justice-for-dj

Idaho Test-Driven “Reforms” Are Failing Our Children
https://www.idahoednews.org/voices/we-are-failing-our-children/

Indiana New Standardized Tests Are Poor Measure of Student Success
https://www.idsnews.com/article/2020/01/opinion-indianas-new-standardized-tests-are-a-poor-evaluation-of-student-success
Indiana Test Misuse Reversal Fails to Recognize Responsibility for Bad Policies
https://www.journalgazette.net/opinion/20200115/xg

Kentucky School Under Investigation for Testing Improprieties
https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/education/2020/01/13/jcps-school-under-investigation-alleged-test-improprieties/4458711002/

Minnesota Time to Rethink Simplistic School Assessments
https://www.hometownsource.com/abc_newspapers/opinion/columnist/column-your-intriguing-suggestions/article_2c6ee664-389b-11ea-acb9-13c8694b97a7.html

Mississippi Despite Pressure From Teachers and Parents, History Testing Mandate Is Unchanged
https://apnews.com/69c1d5a3acf2932ffcdd89c96dcdc3c8

Tennessee Parents, Teachers Protest Kindergarten Testing Overkill
https://www.wate.com/news/knox-co-teacher-parents-call-for-changes-in-kindergarten-testing/

Texas Gifted and Talented Programs Require Less Testing
https://www.news-journal.com/news/local/local-schools-gt-programs-differ-offer-challenges-for-students/article_79134fca-3885-11ea-a6cd-e7668856e789.html

Washington Student Testing Creates a World of Trouble
https://www.courierherald.com/opinion/student-testing-as-it-exists-today-creates-a-world-of-trouble/

University Admissions Southern Illinois University – Carbondale Is Now ACT/SAT Optional
https://www.stltoday.com/brandavestudios/sponsored/southern-illinois-university-carbondale-is-now-a-test-free-zone/article_cfad9942-38aa-11ea-bd3f-b34e327cf165.html

Worth Reading Why Disruptive Education “Reform” Is Losing
https://www.forbes.com/sites/petergreene/2020/01/17/diane-ravitch-why-education-disruption-is-losing/#48d193742be5
Worth Reading More Proof That the Big Standardized Exams Are Useless
http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2020/01/more-proof-big-standardized-tests-mean.html
Worth Reading Six Alternatives to Standardized Testing
https://www.studyinternational.com/news/6-alternatives-standardised-testing/

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

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