Believe it or not, summer vacation is already over for students in several states. For example, the public school year began across Oklahoma and in Indianapolis on August 1. Many Florida districts re-open next week. With the start of classes, controversies over testing policies accelerate. At the same time, scores from last year’s exams and opt-out statistics are being released. The result is a spate of assessment reform stories from more than a third of the 50 states.
NationalPresentations, Projects and Portfolios Can Take Place of Tests
http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-07-27/presentations-projects-and-portfolios-take-place-of-tests-for-some-students
National Ed. Secretary John King Still Loves Standardized Tests
http://www.lohud.com/story/opinion/editorials/2016/07/30/common-core-john-king-still-loves-tests/87711858/
AlaskaNew Law Allows Parents to Opt Kids Out of Tests
http://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2016/07/new-law-alaska-to-allow-parents-to-opt-kids-out-of-common-core-testing/
ArizonaTeachers Tell State Super Stop Changing Standards and Tests
http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2016/jul/26/state-schools-superintendent-gets-payson-earful/
CaliforniaFinal Stage of New Accountability System Design
https://edsource.org/2016/as-deadline-looms-california-struggles-to-finalize-new-school-accountability-system/567372
California State and Federal Accountability Systems Could Clash
https://edsource.org/2016/proposed-federal-state-accountability-systems-could-again-clash-essa-nclb/567665
FloridaThe Case Against High-Stakes Testing
http://www.tallahassee.com/story/life/family/2016/07/26/making-case-against-high-stakes-testing/87567698/
Florida How Standardized Exam Over-Emphasis Caused One 9-Year-Old to Try to Hang Himself
http://www.alternet.org/education/perils-standardized-tests
Florida Administrators Push to Replace State’s Standardized Exams
http://www.wftv.com/news/local/school-administrators-push-to-replace-the-florida-standards-assessment-exam/412812071
GeorgiaAre Young Children Over-Tested
http://getschooled.blog.myajc.com/2016/08/01/do-georgias-new-milestones-tests-demand-too-much-of-younger-students/
IllinoisHigh School PARCC Exam Won’t Be Missed
http://www.qconline.com/editorials/editorial-high-school-parcc-exam-won-t-be-missed-in/article_ab2fb29d-8935-582f-a142-98642013bd75.html
IndianaCommon Sense Testing Changes Backed by Superintendent
http://www.tribstar.com/opinion/flashpoint/flashpoint-bringing-common-sense-testing-change-to-indiana/article_ec9a8a37-8d57-5f09-9de1-50efc2a42e77.html
Indiana Flawed Test Is Political Football
http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/opinion/our_opinion/our-opinion-istep-panel-failing-hoosier-students/article_697cac21-bd6a-5a04-8636-292f359822fe.html
MassachusettsEducation Officials Hear Ideas for New School Accountability Plans
http://bridgewater.wickedlocal.com/news/20160726/education-officials-hear-ideas-for-new-school-accountability-plan
MinnesotaNumber of Students Opting Out of Tests Soars
http://www.startribune.com/more-and-more-minnesota-students-are-opting-out-of-standardized-tests/388582582/
Minnesota Teachers Say Test Scores Provide Little Useful Information
http://www.fox9.com/news/182619302-story
MontanaSchools Explore New Ways to Measure Progress in Post-NCLB Era
http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/education/bozeman-seeks-new-ways-to-measure-schools-progress/article_8ed71ceb-20d0-502f-81ba-a06d6a5b2784.html
New JerseyCan Common Core Reading Tests Ever Be Fair?
http://hechingerreport.org/can-common-core-reading-tests-ever-fair/
New MexicoSupers Slam School Grading System
http://www.ruidosonews.com/story/news/education/2016/07/28/four-superintendents-slam-school-grade-system/87669582/
New YorkStatewide Opt-Out Totals Continue to Grow
http://www.pressconnects.com/story/news/local/new-york/2016/07/29/new-york-test-scores-opt-out/87742584/
New York Don’t Compromise Opt-Out Rights
http://www.uticaod.com/opinion/20160722/our-view-dont-compromise-opt-out-rights
New York Frequent changes in State Assessments Create More Problems
http://www.nystoptesting.com/2016/07/frequent-changes-in-state-assessments_31.html
North DakotaAssessment Task Force Reviews State-Mandated Tests
http://bismarcktribune.com/assessment-task-force-examines-state-mandated-testing/article_d7ed46e8-649a-57e0-9d0d-1d210ad23883.html
North Dakota Districts Review Needs for Added Exams
http://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/education/not-less-testing-better-testing-in-nd-schools/article_57e89446-e470-5972-b1fa-00f86f7e39c4.html
OhioHearings Seek Public Input on New Plans for Testing and Accountability
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/07/as_no_child_left_behind_is_tos.html
OklahomaFewer Tests and New Standards, as Students Return to School
http://newsok.com/oklahoma-students-will-have-new-academic-standards-fewer-tests-this-year/article/5511791
South DakotaState Criticize Draft Federal Education Law Regulations
http://www.argusleader.com/story/news/education/2016/07/28/state-raise-concerns-federal-education-rules/87655994/
TexasState Commission Recommends Testing Overhaul
http://www.statesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/state-commission-likely-to-recommend-replacing-sta/nr5hs/
Texas Questions Loom Over Need for STAAR Test
http://www.fox7austin.com/news/local-news/182209594-story
Texas Teachers Say Don’t Replace STAAR With Another High-Stakes Test
http://therecordlive.com/2016/07/28/tsta-dont-replace-staar-with-another-high-stakes-test/
VirginiaHigh School Graduate Profile Will De-Emphasize Test Scores
http://www.fredericksburg.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-virginia-prepares-profile-of-a-graduate/article_846adabc-77dc-59c9-b2ff-5877449fb913.html
ACT/SATCarthage College Adopts Test-Optional Admissions
https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2016/07/28/carthage-goes-test-optional-admissions
Worth ReadingCh*ckensh*t Education
https://themerrowreport.com/2016/07/25/chckenshit-education/
Worth Reading How Young Children Really Learn
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/31/opinion/sunday/what-babies-know-about-physics-and-foreign-languages.html