Testing Resistance & Reform News: July 8 – 14, 2020

Two steps forward, one step back. At the same time assessment reform activists are pressing to have standardized exams waived for the upcoming school year — if classes even resume this fall — the test-and-punish crowd is pushing to restore previous requirements . . . and then some!

Because testing is primarily a political policy, not an educational one, effective organizing by parents, educators and will be needed to block the reimposition of punitive assessments and extend testing suspensions at least through June 2021.

NationalShould Standardized Tests Be Administered In a Pandemic?
https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2020/07/09/standardized-testing-and-covid-19-4-questions-answered.html

CaliforniaState Issues Guidance for Optional Use of Formative and Interim Assessments
https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/hn/guidanceonassessments.asp

FloridaWill the State Cancel School Tests Again for the 2020-2021 Academic Year?
https://www.tampabay.com/news/education/2020/07/08/will-florida-cancel-school-tests-again-in-2021/

GeorgiaState Submits Formal Testing Waiver Request to U.S. Department of Education
https://wfxl.com/news/state-news/georgia-submits-standardized-testing-waiver-request

IndianaDespite Concerns, Schools Can Give Third Grade Reading Test to Entering Fourth Graders This Fall
https://in.chalkbeat.org/2020/7/8/21317302/indiana-schools-can-give-iread-test-in-the-fall-despite-state-superintendents-concerns

KentuckyEducation Groups Seek Federal Testing Waiver for Coming School Year
https://www.wdrb.com/in-depth/kentucky-education-groups-worry-covid-19-guidance-could-overburden-teachers-staff/article_dbdd7522-c07f-11ea-a821-5f240486217b.html

MassachusettsSix Ways High-Stakes Testing Has Failed Our Students
https://www.citizensforpublicschools.org/cps-report-mcas-is-the-wrong-answer/

Massachusetts NAACP Launches Petition to Waive Selective High School Admission Test
https://schoolyardnews.com/naacp-launches-petition-drive-to-scrap-the-test-for-exam-schools-this-fall-f40d112b3cb8

NevadaCriticism of Public Education Based on Test Scores Is Misguided
https://m.lasvegassun.com/news/2020/jul/10/common-criticism-of-public-education-is-misguided/

New YorkLegislators Back Repeal of Specialized High School Admissions Test
https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/education/ny-new-specialized-high-school-state-legislation-20200709-dnbas7rczjbdtp7dw5rjdddofa-story.html

PennsylvaniaBlack Students Seek Overhaul of High School Admissions Testing Policy
https://whyy.org/articles/black-students-at-central-high-and-some-faculty-call-for-overhaul-of-admissions-school-policies-to-increase-equity/

Pennsylvania School Grades Are Unfair
https://www.citizensvoice.com/opinion/letters/school-grades-seem-unfair/article_4d75e355-d432-5b98-8b62-4ae304163848.html

South CarolinaLegislator Calls for State to Waive 2020-2021 School Tests No Matter What Feds Say
https://www.charlestonchronicle.net/2020/07/09/rep-ja-moore-calls-on-sc-superintendent-to-waive-standardized-testing-regardless-of-us-dept-s-decision/

TexasParents, Elected Officials Press State to Reconsider Plan to Resume High-Stakes Testing
https://kfoxtv.com/news/back-to-school/school-state-officials-ask-to-eliminate-starr-testing-for-upcoming-school-year

Texas Don’t Restart State Testing, Rethink Entire Approach to Assessment
https://www.statesman.com/opinion/20200712/opinion-donrsquot-restart-standardized-testing-instead-rethink-approach

College AdmissionsGraduate Departments Shift From Reliance on GRE
https://physicstoday.scitation.org/do/10.1063/PT.6.2.20200709a/full/

College Admissions Time to Move Away from Admissions Tests
https://grbj.com/opinion/guest-column/move-away-from-college-entrance-exams/

Worth ReadingPandemic Creates Opportunity to Rethink Role of Standardized Tests
https://www.uml.edu/news/stories/2020/education-testing.aspx

Worth Reading Students Score Lower Taking Online Tests
https://www.edutopia.org/article/standardized-tests-students-face-online-penalty

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

Tags: