The grassroots assessment reform movement has refused to take a “summer break.” Across the country, parents, educators and community activists are pressing policymakers to take advantage of the increased testing flexibility allowed under the new federal education law. Already, many states have responded by cutting back standardized exam requirements. Where change is not taking place fast enough, organizers are building stronger opt-out campaigns for the 2016-2017 school year.
National Common Core Standards and Tests Cost Billions, Hurt Students
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/24/opinion/sunday/the-common-core-costs-b…
National PARCC Testing Continues to Fade Away
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/high_school_and_beyond/2016/07/parcc_cont…
Delaware Opt-Out Numbers Rose Slightly in 2016
https://exceptionaldelaware.wordpress.com/2016/07/21/delaware-opt-out-nu…
Florida Parents Readying Lawsuit Against Test-Based Grade Retention
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20160718/ARTICLE/160719651/2055/NEW…
Florida Community Poverty Levels Predict School Grades
http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional-education/cerabi…
Florida Parents and Educators Support Testing System Overhaul
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/school-zone/os-testing…
Georgia Legislators to Listen to Educators on Best Ways to Evaluate Teachers
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local-education/lawmakers-to-hear-teachers-…
Illinois Reducing Standardized Testing Would Save Districts Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars
http://www.pjstar.com/news/20160718/peoria-public-schools-tackles-safety…
Illinois Governor Signs Law Requiring Accurate Tabulation of Testing Requirements
http://rockrivertimes.com/2016/07/25/illinois-takes-first-step-in-reigni…
Illinois Teacher Test Gets Low Marks
http://ilnews.org/8846/teacher-test-gets-low-marks/
Indiana Clock is Ticking to Replace Flawed State Exam; No Plan Yet
http://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/in/2016/07/19/the-clock-is-ticking-for-in…
Indiana Schools Need to Spend More Time Teaching, Less Testing Says Superintendent
http://www.journalgazette.net/opinion/columns/Blurry-vision-on-ISTEP–st…
Kansas Students Will See Significantly Reduced Testing Volume
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2016/jul/20/kansas-students-see-reduction-s…
Kansas Educators Cheer Planned Reduction of Testing Time
http://www.hdnews.net/news/local/educators-cheer-kansas-planned-reductio…
Minnesota Educators Weigh In on How to Improve School Accountability Under New Federal Law
http://www.twincities.com/2016/07/20/educators-weigh-in-on-ways-to-impro…
New York Changing Test Grading Standards Make Some Students Lose Out
http://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/ny/2016/07/19/the-state-is-tinkering-with…
New York Lawmakers, Educators Oppose Punishing Districts for Opt-Outs
http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news03/nny-lawmakers-education-offici…
Ohio High-Stakes Tests Ruin Quality Education
https://dailycall.com/opinion/columns/13098/high-stake-tests-ruin-qualit…
Pennsylvania Testing Overhaul is Needed
http://lancasteronline.com/opinion/editorials/lawmaker-wants-fewer-bette…
Rhode Island Ed Commissioner Defends Decision to Eliminate 10th Grade Test
http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20160719/ri-education-chief-defend…
Tennessee Looking Beyond Test Scores to Evaluate Schools and Districts Under ESSA
http://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/tn/2016/07/20/beyond-test-scores-tennesse…
Texas Survey Shows Public Strongly Opposes Most Testing Policies Including Exit Exam
http://kxan.com/2016/07/20/survey-groups-oppose-tying-test-scores-to-gra…
Texas Schools Try to Understand Error-Plagued Test Results
http://kilgorenewsherald.com/stories/sabine-mulls-error-plagued-early-te…
Texas Dallas to Cut School Testing Load
http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/education/dallas-schools-to-cut-test-loa…
Virginia Administrator Demoted Students to Avoid State Test
http://wjhl.com/2016/07/20/scott-co-administrator-intentionally-violated…
ACT/SAT Students, Teachers Detail Pervasive Global Cheating on Exam Owned by U.S. Testing Giant
http://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/college-cheating-act/
ACT/SAT Test-Optional Policy Is Step in Right Direction
http://www.masslive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/07/aic_takes_step_in_the_…
Worth Reading New Nat’l Ed. Policy Center Book — Learning From the Federal Market-Based Reforms: Lessons for ESSA
http://www.infoagepub.com/products/Learning-from-the-Federal-Market%E2%8…
Worth Reading Study Unlocks Why Decrepit Schools Lead to Low Test Scores
http://news.cornell.edu/stories/2016/07/study-unlocks-why-decrepit-schoo…
Worth Reading Building a Better Teacher: Understanding Value-Added Models in the Law of Teacher Evaluation
https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781475807295/Building-a-Better-Teacher-Understa…