Testing Resistance & Reform News: July 13 – 19, 2016

Pressure is growing on the U.S. Department of Education to withdraw punitive draft regulations for implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act. At the same time, many states and districts are pursuing the assessment flexibility encouraged by the new federal law.

National Parents Across America Calls for Withdrawal of Draft Fed Regs. That Push Failed NCLB Practices
http://parentsacrossamerica.org/paa-congress-ed-leaders-stop-harmful-ess…
National Take Action to Block Top-Down, Test-and-Punish Draft Federal “Accountability: Regulations
https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-congress-department-must-drop-pro…

California Multiple Measures for School Accountability
http://www.livingindialogue.com/californias-new-accountability-system-mu…

Florida Opt-Out Activists Launch GoFundMe Campaign for Lawsuit Against Test-Based Grade Retention
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/group-seeks-support-to-fight-flo…
Florida Test-Driven School Grades Remain Unreliable
http://www.gainesville.com/opinion/20160715/editorial-school-grades-rema…

Georgia Tests to Play Smaller Role in Teacher Evaluation
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local-education/tests-will-now-play-diminis…

Illinois Are Standardized Tests Becoming a Shell Game?
http://www.nwherald.com/2016/07/13/from-the-editors-desk-are-standardize…
Illinois PARCC Died but Testing Overkill Lives On
http://qctimes.com/news/opinion/editorial/editorial-parcc-died-many-othe…

Iowa Test-Based Third Grade Retention Delayed to 2018 by Funding Constraints
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/education/2016/07/17/iowa-re…

Maryland Decisions on Testing Volume Left Up to Local School Boards
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/education/blog/bs-md-testing-c…

Mississippi Ever-Changing School Grading Standards Yield Confusing Assessment of Academic Performance
http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/2016/07/15/miss-schools-show-improve…

Nebraska College Admissions Test May Replace Series of 11th Grade Exams
http://www.omaha.com/news/education/nebraska-public-schools-might-replac…

Nevada State Accepts $1.8 Million Payment for Botched Smarter Balanced Computer Test
http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/education/nevada-accepts-18m-settlemen…
Nevada Test Opt-Outs Increase Despite Pressure from Schools
https://lasvegassun.com/news/2016/jul/15/opt-out-common-core-smarter-bal…

New York U.S. Ed Secretary Criticized for Push to Punish Opt Outs
https://www.longislandexchange.com/press-releases/murray-a-push-to-penal…
New York State Senator Urges Sec. King to Withdraw Proposal to Punish Schools for Opt-Outs
http://wibx950.com/griffo-urges-education-secretary-to-reconsider-propos…

Pennsylvania Fewer But Better Tests Under Consideration
http://lancasteronline.com/insider/rethinking-standardized-tests-pa-cons…

Rhode Island Standardized Testing Reduced for 10th and 11th Graders
http://ripr.org/post/ri-tweaks-new-testing-policy

Tennessee Failed Tests Leave State with Challenge for Years to Come
http://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/tn/2016/07/13/why-this-years-failed-tnrea…
Tennessee Testing Time to Be Reduced
http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2016/07/14/tennessee-cut-…

Texas Summer School Confusion After Testing Foul-Ups
http://www.gilmermirror.com/view/full_story/27229581/article-Summer-Scho…

Washington How Should School Success Be Measured?
http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/how-should-we-measure-school-success…

ACT/SAT American International College Joins Test-Optional Admissions Movement
http://www.masslive.com/business-news/index.ssf/2016/07/aic_goes_test_op…

Worth Reading If Rewards Improve Scores, What’s Really Being Tested?
http://neatoday.org/2016/07/12/standardized-tests-rewards/
Worth Reading New Book “Multiple Choice” Turns Testing Into Narrative Tool
http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/books/zambras-engaging-multiple-ch…

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