Testing Resistance & Reform News: June 14 – 20, 2017

With stories from 20 states in just the past week, it’s clear that controversies around school testing policies are not abating. Grassroots pressure from parents, students, educators, and community leaders is forcing some policymakers to back off from failed test-and-punish policies. The summer academic break is a great time to build even stronger assessment reform campaigns for the fall.

Alabama School Reevaluate Testing Definition of Readiness
https://lagniappemobile.com/schools-re-evaluate-readiness-amid-testing-c…

California Huge Test Opt-Out Rates in Some Districts
https://paloaltoonline.com/news/2017/06/13/school-district-grapples-with…
California State Solicits Input on ESSA Implementation Plan
http://laschoolreport.com/accountability-and-school-improvement-are-top-…

Colorado State Will No Longer Give PARCC English and Math Tests
http://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/co/2017/06/14/colorado-will-no-longer-giv…

Florida Teachers Takes State to Court About Flawed Licensing Exam
http://www.wptv.com/news/local-news/investigations/fl-teacher-takes-stat…
Florida Parent Recounts Her Children’s Horrible Testing Experiences
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/wp/2017/06/15/my-third-gra…

Georgia State Seeks Input on New ESSA Plan
http://news.wabe.org/post/georgia-seeks-input-federal-education-accounta…

Idaho Education Groups Feel Disrespected by Lack of ESSA Plan Participation
https://www.idahoednews.org/news/education-groups-feel-disrespected-lack…

Illinois State Testing Problem Remain
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20170613/guest-column-state-testing-issues-r…

Maine Superintendent Says State Educational Assessment is Broken
http://www.sunjournal.com/news/columns-analysis/2017/06/18/maine-educati…

Massachusetts What to Know About School Ratings Tools From Real Estate Company
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/06/14/what-to-k…

Mississippi Pearson Fired After 1000 Tests Mis-scored
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2017/06/16/mde-testing-company-m…

New Hampshire What’s In State’s ESSA Plan?
http://www.concordmonitor.com/What-s-in-the-state-ESSA-plan-10730919

New York Is Timed Standardized Testing Worth It?
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/work_in_progress/2017/06/timed_standard…

Ohio State Supers Proposal Would End Art, Music and Gym Tests to Grade Teachers
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/06/heres_how_ohio_would_cu…

Oklahoma Legislature Engineered Third-Grade Testing Crisis, Then Punished Its Victim
http://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/editorials/tulsa-world-editorial-the-l…

Pennsylvania Governor Signs Bill Allowing Career-Track Students Alternatives to Keystone Exit Exams
http://triblive.com/local/allegheny/12403157-74/wolf-signs-law-granting-…
Pennsylvania Testing Non-Reform
http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2017/06/pa-testing-non-reform.html

South Carolina Teachers Don’t Miss Words About Test-Based Evaluations
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/charleston-county-teachers-don-t-minc…

Texas Jury Selected for Test Cheating Trial of Five El Paso School Administrators
http://kfoxtv.com/news/local/jury-selected-for-former-episd-administrato…
Texas School Grading Scaleback Signed Into Law
http://www.statesman.com/news/state–regional-govt–politics/bill-that-s…

Virginia Testing Continues for Some Students Two Weeks After School Year Ends
http://www.roanoke.com/news/education/weeks-after-roanoke-s-last-day-of-…

Washington State Senate and House Still Can’t Agree on What Tests to Repeal
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/jun/13/senate-would-give-high-scho…

West Virginia State Board Considering “No Labels” School Accountability System
http://www.wvgazettemail.com/news-education/20170616/wv-state-school-boa…

University Admissions The SAT Is for the Birds and Colleges Know It
https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2017/06/15/sat-birds-colle…

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