With 2020 state legislative sessions getting underway in many states, it’s the right time for educators, community leaders and grassroots activists to press their representatives to roll back testing misuse and overuse. Check out the assessment reform policy initiatives already in play in several jurisdictions in this week’s news clips.
National Bernie Sanders and Mike Pence Opposed “No Child Left Behind” for Very Different Reasons
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/01/09/18-years-ago-mike-pence-voted-against-no-child-left-behind-so-did-bernie-sanders-their-reasons-werent-same/
Delaware District Wants to Eliminate Smarter Balanced Assessment
https://6abc.com/5823331/
Florida Plan to Rid Classrooms of “Common Core Testing” Remains Secret
https://www.tampabay.com/news/gradebook/2020/01/07/florida-has-a-new-plan-to-rid-schools-of-common-core-but-its-a-secret/
Florida Politicians Propose Extending A-to-F School Grades to Pre-K Classrooms
https://accountabaloney.com/index.php/2020/01/10/expanding-a-f-school-grades-to-pre-school-and-other-very-bad-ideas/
Georgia Administrator in Test-Cheating Case Is Paroled From Prison
https://www.ajc.com/news/local/former-aps-administrator-sent-prison-cheating-case-gets-parole/pdvZY6nmjfkms5FTa6kAJL/
Illinois “Basic Skills” Test Hurdle for Aspiring Teachers Eliminated
https://illinoisnewsroom.org/2020/01/10/new-law-removes-big-barrier-for-aspiring-teachers/
Indiana Bill Holds Schools Harmless From Flawed Exam Scores and Ends Link of Test Results From Teacher Evaluations
https://www.wdrb.com/in-depth/indiana-house-committee-advances-hold-harmless-teacher-evaluation-bills/article_0453ad12-3185-11ea-9963-b3da6c542f15.html
Indiana New Year’s Resolution: Teach Your Students, Not the Test
https://sbloom2.wordpress.com/2020/01/08/resolutions-2/
Kentucky Teachers Call on Legislature to End Test-Driven Culture of Education
https://forwardky.com/an-open-letter-from-a-teacher-to-kentucky-legislators/
Kentucky Testing Fees Eliminated for Adults Seeking GED
https://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Testing-fees-waived-for-Kentuckians-wanting-to-get-their-GED-566781111.html?ref=111
Massachusetts High-Performing District Moves Toward Competency-Based Learning
https://hechingerreport.org/why-a-high-performing-district-is-changing-everything-with-competency-based-learning/
Michigan Suit Claims Cheating on GED Exam
https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2020/01/09/lawsuit-cheating-michigan-prison-ged-exams/2842933001/
New York How to Weigh In on State Graduation Requirements
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/How-to-weigh-in-on-the-N-Y-graduation-standards-14971449.php
New York Why Did This School Vote to Eliminate Its Gifted-and-Talented Program
https://www.bkreader.com/2020/01/07/why-did-this-prospect-heights-school-vote-to-eliminate-its-gifted-and-talented-program/
North Carolina Testing Contract Legal Controversy Leads to Classroom Confusion
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article239027103.html
Virginia Legislator Seeks Reduction in State-Mandated Tests
https://www.heraldcourier.com/news/pillion-says-sol-reduction-funding-increase-are-priorities-in-session/article_f661de8b-b912-531a-99d1-5a4a083c533a.html
International Canada Striking Teachers Say Testing Disruption Does Not Matter
https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/striking-ontario-teachers-eqao-delayed_ca_5e1656ddc5b600960c5f5d87
University Admissions Final Thoughts on the SAT and ACT
https://jonboeckenstedt.net/2020/01/10/some-final-thoughts-on-the-sat-and-act/
University Admissions Many More Colleges Using Grades, Other Measures as Alternatives to College Placement Tests
https://www.dailynews.com/2020/01/12/colleges-are-using-high-school-grades-not-just-standardized-tests-to-determine-if-students-need-remedial-courses/
Worth Reading America Must End High-Stakes Testing, Invest in Public Education
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/01/08/bernie-sanders-education-no-child-left-behind-testing-column/2827348001/
Worth Reading Opting Out: The Story of the Parents’ Grassroots Movement to Achieve Whole-Child Public Schools
https://greatschoolwars.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/screen-shot-2020-01-01-at-7.12.48-pm.png
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