Testing Resistance & Reform News: July 6 – 12, 2016

Grassroots pressure is leading many states and districts to re-evaluate their standardized testing requirements and start developing alternative, performance-based assessments, often seeking to use new flexibility under the recently adopted federal education law. Keep the heat on!

NationalRules Proposed for ESSA’s Innovative Assessment Pilot Program
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2016/07/essa_innovative_assessment_regulations.html

ArkansasElementary Schools Should Be About More than Test Scores
http://swtimes.com/columns-blogs/jessica-hayes/education-today-elementary-school-should-be-more-test-scores

CaliforniaDeciphering Proposed School and District Report Cards
https://edsource.org/2016/how-to-decipher-the-states-proposed-school-and-district-report-cards/566786

ColoradoState Officials Protest Federal Ed. Law Draft Regulations “Overreach”
http://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/co/2016/07/07/colorado-officials-are-not-happy-with-the-nations-new-education-law-heres-why/#.V38lpPkrLIU

FloridaPreparing to Implement New Federal Education Law
http://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2016/07/florida-prepares-to-implement-new-federal-education-accountability-law-103549

Florida Superintendents Say Lower School Grades Could Be Misleading
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/school-zone/os-orange-seminole-superintendents-school-grades-20160707-story.html

GeorgiaNew State Law Reduces Testing Time
http://www.walb.com/story/32386628/fewer-standardized-tests-for-students-in-dougherty-co

IllinoisState Replaces High School PARCC Test with SAT
http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2016/07/il-state-finds-worse-tool-than-parcc.html

IndianaLots of Ways to Measure School Quality Beyond Test Scores
http://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/in/2016/07/06/how-to-measure-school-quality-beyond-test-scores-state-officials-count-the-ways/

Indiana How New Federal Law Could Affect Indiana Schools
http://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/in/2016/07/12/no-child-left-behind-is-gone-heres-how-new-federal-law-could-affect-indiana-schools/

MarylandCommission Urges Local Districts to Take a Close Look at Testing Requirements
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/md-testing-commission-urges-local-districts-to-take-a-close-look-at-their-exams/2016/07/06/eac49e66-439d-11e6-88d0-6adee48be8bc_story.html

MassachusettsConsortium of Schools Working on Alternative Assessments
http://www.lowellsun.com/todaysheadlines/ci_30118405/lowell-schools-part-task-force-working-alternative-assessments

New YorkWhy the Opt-Out Movement Is Crucial for the Future of Public Education
https://dianeravitch.net/2016/07/06/why-the-opt-out-movement-is-crucial-for-the-future-of-public-education/

New York Draft Principles for Defining “Highly Effective Schools”
http://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/ny/2016/07/11/what-makes-a-highly-effective-school-new-york-state-takes-its-first-crack-at-describing-what-will-count/#.V4TE-pMrLBI

North CarolinaWill Teacher Bonuses Boost Student Performance?
http://www.wral.com/will-teacher-bonuses-boost-student-performance-/15833874/

North DakotaState Will Help Districts Streamline Tests
http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/view/story/dd08ba7faba74f31b132b537e813a3b7/ND–Test-Streamlining

PennsylvaniaFormer School Administrator Sentenced for Role in Test Cheating Scandal
http://fox43.com/2016/07/11/former-philadelphia-school-administrator-sentenced-for-role-in-pssa-cheating-conspiracy/

TennesseeMost Districts Will Postpone Computerized Testing for Another Year
http://nashvillepublicradio.org/post/most-tennessee-schools-will-stick-paper-testing-another-year

Tennessee Lawmakers Question New Testing Contract
http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2016/07/07/democrat-seeks-answers-over-new-testing-vendor/86812320/

TexasLocal Educators Concerned About Impacts of Flawed Standardized Tests
http://www.kristv.com/story/32387380/local-educators-concerned-about-standardized-testing-in-the-upcoming-school-year

Texas Superintendent of the Year Proposes Testing System Overhaul
http://www.tdtnews.com/news/article_9d6a9adc-44ae-11e6-9931-cf49074fa069.html

WyomingState Cuts Ties With Smarter Balanced Assessmetns
http://news.heartland.org/newspaper-article/2016/09/10/wyoming-cuts-ties-common-core-aligned-testing

International Australia: Is Standardized Testing Putting Too Much Pressure on Children
http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/is-standardised-testing-putting-too-much-pressure-on-kids-20160708-gq1hxs.html

Worth Watching Are Young Kids Losing the Brain-Boosting Benefits of Playtime
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/are-young-kids-losing-the-brain-boosting-benefits-of-playtime/

Worth Reading Can the Save Our Schools Movement Fix Public Education
http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/07/09/save-our-schools-fix-public-education

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