Any notion that the new federal education law would slow the grassroots testing resistance and reform movement should be put to rest by even a quick skim of this week’s headlines. From Alaska to Florida and Maine to California parents, educators and community activists are escalating pressure on state and local policy makers to reduce testing volume, eliminate high stakes and support better forms of assessment.
National How Should Educators React to New, Federal ESSA?
http://dianeravitch.net/2016/01/20/john-thompson-how-should-educators-re…
Multiple States GED Lowers Passing Score, Tens of Thousand More Young People May Receive Credentials
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/high_school_and_beyond/2016/01/ged_passin…
Alabama Test-Based “Merit Pay” Has Serious Flaws
http://www.andalusiastarnews.com/2016/01/23/teacher-merit-pay-bill-has-s…
Alaska State Likely to Dump New Standardized Test
http://juneauempire.com/state/2016-01-25/state-likely-dump-new-standardi…
Alaska Why Administer Tests Whose Results Are Not Meaningful?
http://peninsulaclarion.com/opinion/2016-01-21/assessments-must-be-meani…
California Feds Urged Not to Intrude on State’s Assessment Reforms
http://edsource.org/2016/federal-officials-urged-not-to-intrude-on-state…
California Students Stymied by Exit Exam May Now Qualify for Diplomas
http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2016/01/22/students-stymied-by-exit-exam-may-qu…
Connecticut The Lies Behind Making the SAT a Mandatory 11th Grade Test
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Wendy-Lecker-The-lies-in-th…
Connecticut Educators Seek Moratorium on Test-Based Teacher Evaluations
http://m.newstimes.com/news/article/Teacher-want-evaluation-system-chang…
Florida Legislature’s Testing Proposals Are “Accoutabaloney”
https://accountabaloney.wordpress.com/2016/01/20/sb1360-baloney-on-rye-i…
Florida House Minority Leader Urges Parents to Consider Opting Their Children Out of State Tests
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/florida-house-democratic-leader-…
Florida My Son Should Dream, Not Have Testing Nightmares
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/op-ed/article55928525.html
Georgia Governor Backs Off on Plan for Test-Based Teacher Pay
http://flagpole.com/news/capitol-impact/2016/01/20/deal-backs-off-plan-t…
Illinois Grassroots Opt-Out Campaign Derails Common Core Test
http://www.mcdonoughvoice.com/article/20160121/NEWS/160129808
Indiana Governor Signs Bill Holding Schools, Teachers Harmless for Flawed State Test Scores
http://www.journalreview.com/news/article_2c0dcb08-c078-11e5-a9e6-ffd8a5…
Indiana Trial Run of New Test Exam Reveals Technical Problems
http://www.indystar.com/story/news/education/2016/01/20/school-districts…
Maine What Will Replace Smarter Balanced Testing?
https://www.centralmaine.com/2016/01/24/the-vital-question-of-school-tes…
Maryland Legislative Leaders Plan to Act on School Testing Reform
http://www.wboc.com/story/31003617/md-legislative-teaders-plan-to-act-on…
Michigan Teachers, Students Held Hostage By Endless Tests
http://www.thetimesherald.com/story/opinion/columnists/2016/01/25/teache…
Montana Senator Urges U.S. Ed. Department to Encourage States to Reduce Testing
http://www.scribd.com/doc/296018172/Tester-s-letter-to-Acting-Secretary-…
Nebraska New Federal Education Law a Welcome Change from “No Child” Mandates
http://www.theindependent.com/opinion/another_opinion/new-education-law-…
New Jersey Governor Signs Law Requiring Parental Pre-Notification of Testing Schedule, Assessment Details
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2014/Bills/A5000/4901_I1.HTM
New Mexico Legislature Preparing for Fight Over Third-Grade Retention Proposal
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/legislature/legislature-preparing-…
New York Hundreds of Teachers Received Erroneous Scores Linked to Student Tests
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/25/nyregion/over-200-educators-in-new-yor…
North Carolina Education Advocates Call for End to Test-Based Teacher Evaluation
http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2016/01/25/education-advocates-call-for-e…
Ohio Consider Source of School Grades
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/editorials/2016/01/21/1-consider…
Oregon Open Letter Urges Supers and School Boards Not to Interfere with Opt Outs
http://oregonsaveourschools.blogspot.com/2016/01/an-open-letter-to-orego…
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Governor Joins Legislators in Supporting Exit Exam Requirement Delay
http://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/01/wolf_on_board_with_de…
Pennsylvania Grad Test Delay is Well Justified
http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2016/01/25/Justified-dela…
Rhode Island Panel Examining Alternatives to Testing
http://www.ricentral.com/kent_county_daily_times/news/local_news/serpa-p…
Tennessee Bill Would Let Parents Review Questions and Answers From Their Kids State Tests
http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2016/01/22/bills-would-le…
Tennessee Teachers Could Get a Break From Some Testing Pressures
http://www.commercialappeal.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-teachers-co…
Vermont State Seeks New Way to Evaluate Schools Under Revised Federal Education Law
http://digital.vpr.net/post/state-grapples-new-us-education-law#stream/0
ACT/SAT New College Admissions Study Says SAT Should Be Optional
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/USA-Update/2016/0120/Harvard-study-says-SAT…
ACT/SAT Do Admissions Exams Predict Anything Colleges Need to Know
http://www.forbes.com/sites/christeare/2016/01/22/test-optional-colleges…
ACT/SAT Siena Heights University to Drop Admissions Test Requirements
http://www.lenconnect.com/news/20160123/siena-heights-university-to-drop…
SAT Integrity Falls Victim To Cheating Scandal
http://www.barrons.com/articles/sat-integrity-falls-victim-to-china-chea…
Overcoming the Pressure to Test
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/work_in_progress/2016/01/overcoming_the…
Let’s Replace Transcripts, Tests and Grades With Portfolios
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/work_in_progress/2016/01/lets_replace_t…