Testing Resistance & Reform News: January 6 - 12, 2021
State after state is moving to roll back standardized exam requirements for this spring and eliminate high-stakes consequences. It's time for the federal government to follow suit by granting waivers from all public school testing mandates at least for spring 2021. Remember to encourage friends and allies to sign on to the National Call to Suspend High-Stakes Testing for Spring 2021
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/suspend-high-stakes-student-testing
National States Move to Suspend "A to F" School Report Cards, Create Flexibility for "Accountability"
https://www.k12dive.com/news/states-move-to-suspend-school-report-cards-create-accountability-flexibili/592681/
National Webinar on What School Accountability Should Look Like in a Time of COVID with Assessment Reform allies Lorrie Shepard and Angela Valenzuela
https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/opinion-what-should-school-accountability-look-like-in-a-time-of-covid/2021/01
Colorado School Standardized Testing Will Be Key Issue in 2021 Legislative Session
https://co.chalkbeat.org/2021/1/11/22226029/colorado-2021-legislative-preview-testing-and-funding-will-be-key-issues
Florida With Exit Exam Requirement Waived, High School Graduation Rate Hit 90% in 2020
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/education/os-ne-florida-high-school-graduation-rates-20210107-43rlhgh4svblrml7cvmjv4b7am-story.html
Georgia Appeals Court Hears New Challenge to Atlanta Test-Cheating Convictions
https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/appeals-court-hears-challenges-to-aps-test-cheating-convictions/XSBICGAH5ZC6DBN3RN5QJBQIZA/
Indiana Political Leaders Want Students to Take Tests But Without Consequences for Scores
https://in.chalkbeat.org/2021/1/7/22217585/indiana-ilearn-covid-hold-harmless
Maine Listen to Educators and Lift Annual Testing Mandate
https://bangordailynews.com/2021/01/05/opinion/contributors/evolving-our-educational-expectations-for-2021/
Massachusetts High School Seniors Will Not Have to Pass State Test to Graduate in Spring 2021
https://www.wbur.org/edify/2021/01/05/mcas-senior-graduation-test-coronavirus
Minnesota Standardized Testing During COVID Becomes Flashpoint for English Learners
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2021/01/11/standardized-tests-during-covid19-become-a-flashpoint-for-minnesota-students-learning-english
Mississippi State Wants to Waive Some Standardized Testing Requirements
https://www.wlbt.com/2021/01/07/state-wants-waive-testing-requirements-high-school-seniors-third-graders-wake-covid-/
Missouri 94% of State Teachers Support Suspending Spring 2021 Standardized Exams
https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/education/2021/01/05/missouri-schools-msta-survey-94-teachers-support-suspending-state-tests/4135412001/
New Jersey High School Seniors Won't Have to Pass Exit Exam to Graduate; Teachers Will Not Be Evaluated by Students' Test Scores
https://www.nj.com/education/2021/01/nj-seniors-dont-have-to-pass-exit-exam-teachers-wont-be-rated-on-student-performance.html
New York Spare the Tests, Support the Children
https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-spare-the-tests-support-the-children-20210112-ef2hznkuxzauplgtndruaqwlcm-story.html
North Carolina State Seeks School "Accountability" Waiver but Insists on In-Person Testing During Pandemic
https://greensboro.com/news/local/education/despite-covid-19-cases-at-record-high-n-c-students-still-required-to-take-in/article_9f53f756-51cb-11eb-96e4-f31a0c0b51e8.html
Pennsylvania Will Parents Be Asked to Proctor District Exams at Home?
https://nepc.colorado.edu/blog/will-pa-schools
Rhode Island Teachers Concerned About Validity of English Learner Tests
https://turnto10.com/i-team/english-learner-proficiency-tests-draw-concern-from-educators-organizations
Texas State Seeks to Move All Standardized Exams Online
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/Texas-relatively-close-to-ready-for-moving-15850744.php
Virginia Students Can Opt Out of Most State Tests
https://www.dailypress.com/news/education/dp-nw-sol-tests-coronavirus-20210109-jwxiopgcs5f4hlk2eqryiulmta-story.html
Virginia English Learners Urged to Come to School to Take Tests
https://richmond.com/news/local/english-learners-are-being-asked-to-come-to-school-in-person-to-take-standardized-test/article_49f807dd-41b5-51ef-ba8c-587d3ddb14df.html
University Admissions "Top 100" MBA Programs That Are Waiving GMAT/GRE Score Requirements
https://poetsandquants.com/2021/01/10/top-100-mba-programs-that-are-now-waiving-gmat-gre-tests/?pq-category=admissions
Worth Reading Learning Disabilities Association Says Meeting Needs of Students and Schools Should Take Priority Over Standardized Testing
https://www.k12dive.com/news/supporting-schools-must-take-priority-over-costly-standardized-tests/593022/
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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