More than 1,000 individuals attended last week’s, FairTest-sponsored “Town Hall on How and Why to Suspending High-Stakes Testing in Spring 2021” with Rep. Jamaal Bowman and many excellent assessment reform experts– if you missed the event, the video is now online:
Meanwhile, state after state is joining the movement to press the Biden Administration to grant testing waivers.
NationalMore States Seek Testing Waivers
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/01/29/standardized-tests-waiver-states-biden
National Calls for Timeout From Testing During Pandemic — and Beyond — Grow
https://www.ajc.com/education/get-schooled-blog/push-underway-to-pause-high-stakes-testing-during-pandemic-and-beyond/7FXYBOAWVZGYFKKRKOOSWZVP4A/
National Assessment Reform Experts Advocate for High-Stakes Test Suspension, Seek Equitable Alternatives
https://diverseeducation.com/article/203390/
ArizonaLegislature Advances Bills to Pause State School Grades, Exempt Teacher Evaluations
https://fronterasdesk.org/content/1653825/az-education-committees-vote-favor-pausing-school-letter-grades-exemptions-teacher
ArkansasBill to Suspend Test-Based School Grades Moves to State Senate
https://www.thv11.com/article/news/education/bill-pause-school-letter-grades-arkansas/91-09f65baa-d389-4b84-9840-3ca5d39d2c6a
ColoradoLawmakers Plan Push to Waive This Year’s Standardized Exams
https://www.cpr.org/2021/01/27/colorado-state-lawmakers-plan-push-to-skip-school-standardized-tests-this-year-because-of-coronavirus/
Colorado Local School Board Is Right to Skip Annual Testing
https://www.greeleytribune.com/2021/01/29/greeley-tribune-opinion-greeley-school-district-takes-the-right-position-on-standardized-testing/
GeorgiaStandardized Tests Force Students Back to Classrooms Amidst COVID Fears
https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/henry-county/state-standardized-tests-are-forcing-students-back-into-classroom-amid-covid-19-fears/BPWFTKH5MFEL5B3NNND3F5HQAA/
FloridaPressure to Cancel 2021 Standardized Exams Grow
https://cbs12.com/news/local/calls-to-skip-2021-standardized-testing-in-florida-grow
Florida Families and Educators Call for State Testing Suspension
https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2021/01/29/parents–teachers-call-for-fsa-to-be-postponed-this-school-year
IndianaState Insists on Administering In-School Standardized Tests
https://www.courierpress.com/story/news/2021/01/27/ilearn-go-year-remote-testing-not-option-evsc/4262430001/
MaineDistrict Applauds State Pursuit of Federal Testing Waiver
https://wbng.com/2021/01/26/maine-endwell-school-district-reacts-to-state-department-of-educations-request-to-waive-assessment-exams/
MassachusettsThis Year More Than Ever, Say “No” to State Tests
https://www.recorder.com/my-turn-selwyn-NoMCAS2021-38544634
Massachusetts Alternative to Graduation Test Offered to 5,600 Seniors
https://whdh.com/news/alternative-graduation-requirement-offered-to-5600-mass-high-school-seniors/
MichiganState Asks Feds to Waive Annual Exam Mandate
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/education/2021/01/25/michigan-asks-feds-again-cancel-2020-21-state-student-assessments/4246266001/
MontanaBoard of Education Unanimously Supports Federal Test Waiver Request
https://montanafreepress.org/2021/01/29/montana-schools-pursue-second-cancellation-of-standardized-testing/
New JerseyGrowing Pushback Against Administering State Tests This Spring
https://www.njspotlight.com/2021/02/nj-education-leaders-pushing-for-federal-waiver-of-school-testing-requirements/
New Jersey Why Educators Approve State’s Suspension of High School Graduation Testing
https://www.burlingtoncountytimes.com/story/news/local/south-jersey/2021/01/28/testing-debate-reignited-covid-grad-testing-waiver/4217806001/
New YorkState Is Right to Protect Students and Teachers by Seeking Testing Waiver
https://www.newsday.com/opinion/editorial/standardized-testing-schools-covid-19-regents-coronavirus-long-island-coronavirus-1.50133467
OregonParents, Teachers Fight Plans for At-Home Standardized Tests
https://www.opb.org/article/2021/01/28/teachers-parents-question-pps-plans-for-at-home-standardized-tests/
PennsylvaniaCancel This Year’s PSSAs the Keystone Exams
https://www.ydr.com/story/opinion/2021/02/01/editorial-cancel-pssa-and-keystone-assessments-2021/4297025001/
Pennsylvania School Superintendents Call for Federal Testing Waiver
https://www.pottsmerc.com/news/coronavirus/berks-county-school-superintendents-ask-federal-officials-to-cancel-standardized-tests-because-of-covid-challenges/article_c4bc540d-d1c3-5551-88c2-03348e4f1db4.html
TexasTesting Coordinator Explains Realities of Trying to Administer Standardized Exams in Pandemic
https://cloakinginequity.com/2021/01/26/educator-says-testing-this-year-not-gonna-work/
WashingtonHouse Passes Bill Allowing Grad Test Waiver
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/jan/28/a-washington-bill-to-waive-some-graduation-require/
University AdmissionMore Colleges and Universities Extend ACT/SAT Optional Policies
https://www.forbes.com/sites/akilbello/2021/01/28/rice-cornell-and-others-are-extending-test-optional-admissions-policies/?sh=1ee675756f02
Worth ReadingSelling Robo-Scoring: How’s That Going?
http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2021/01/selling-roboscoring-hows-that-going.html
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