Testing Resistance & Reform News: January 24 – 30, 2018

Week after week, news stories demonstrate the many ways test-driven schooling is failing students, families, educators and taxpayers. It’s no wonder, then, that the assessment reform movement continues to grow across the U.S.

AlabamaParents Criticize System that Grades Schools Based on Single Test Score
http://whnt.com/2018/01/25/parent-thinks-state-grading-system-that-failed-three-huntsville-schools-needs-to-change/

DelawareState Law Bars Punishment for Opting Out of Tests
https://exceptionaldelaware.wordpress.com/2018/01/26/a-strong-reminder-for-delaware-schools-about-the-smarter-balanced-assessment-and-opt-out/

IllinoisTest Scores Released Two Years Late
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elgin-courier-news/news/ct-ecn-elgin-area-science-test-scores-st-0126recovered-fri-jan-19-134018-2018-20180119-story.html

Illinois Alternatives Sought for High School Equivalency Test
http://www.whig.com/20180130/state-looks-at-alternatives-to-high-school-equivalency-test#

IndianaStudent Envisions World Without State Tests
http://www.kokomotribune.com/news/local_news/northwestern-student-envisions-world-without-istep/article_050cc7de-ffb4-11e7-b3a4-2f6349114ea5.html

LouisianaCharter School Administrators Fired After Systematic Test Irregularities
https://thelensnola.org/2018/01/23/four-administrators-at-singleton-fired-after-systemic-irregularities-on-standardized-tests/

MassachusettsBeyond the State Test: Access and Equity in Public Schools
http://www.ourbrooklineschools.org/

MississippiTesting Company Breach Revealed Student Data
https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2018/01/19/mississippi-student-data-accessed-testing-vendor-breach/1050068001/

MissouriDistricts to Study Better Ways to Measure Student Learning
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/missouri-school-districts-to-study-a-better-way-to-measure/article_c4e963f1-a65f-514b-be3c-5e0d5b403ec6.html

New HampshireFeds Approve State ESSA Plan Allowing Performance Assessments to Replace Some Tests
http://www.concordmonitor.com/Feds-approve-NH-s-ESSA-plan-15100611

New YorkOfficials Will Seek Federal Waiver for Testing English Language Learners
https://chalkbeat.org/posts/ny/2018/01/22/new-york-officials-vow-to-keep-fighting-for-controversial-testing-rules-after-federal-agency-rejects-them/

New York Parents Angered by State’s Failure to Apply for Innovative Assessment Grant
https://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/ny/2018/01/23/new-york-wont-apply-for-federal-program-that-would-have-allowed-for-innovative-state-tests/

South DakotaSixth Graders Using Project-Based Assessments Rather Than Tests
https://www.mitchellrepublic.com/news/education/4393486-mitchell-sixth-grade-class-using-project-based-assessment-instead-tests

VermontCritics Question Accuracy of Smarter Balance Test Results
https://vtdigger.org/investigations/making-grade-part-2/

WashingtonToo Much Emphasis on Testing
https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/education-too-much-focus-on-testing/

Washington State Graduation Tests Hurts Students
http://www.union-bulletin.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/state-testing-for-graduation-fails-students/article_4e4d6b30-0534-11e8-9f04-577b5730fee5.html

InternationalPutting PISA to the Test: High Childhood Poverty Explains Low U.S. Ranking
https://www.turnaroundusa.org/2015-pisa-analysis/

University AdmissionsPush Back Against Test-Maker Book Criticizing Test-Optional Policies
https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2018/01/29/new-book-criticizes-test-optional-movement

Worth ReadingSir Ken Robinson Says Creative Schools Blocked by Standardized Testing Fixation
https://www.educationdive.com/news/fetc-2018-ken-robinson-argues-2-key-points-in-support-of-creative-schools/515530/

Worth Reading The Value of Creative Writing in a Culture of Standardized Testing
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2018/01/28/why-you-are-wrong-if-you-think-creative-writing-is-a-frivolous-waste-of-time/

Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing
office-(239) 395-6773 fax-(239) 395-6779
mobile-(239) 699-0468
web-http://www.fairtest.org

Tags: