Testing Resistance & Reform News: June 19 – 25, 2019

As the last classrooms close for summer break, it’s a good time to look back — the past year has been among the best ever for the testing reform movement: more states eliminating exit exams; successful campaigns to rollback test-driven school grading schemes and the fastest ACT/SAT-optional growth rate in history.

Next year should be even better! Please help give FairTest the muscle it needs to support grassroots activists, educators, community leaders and policy-makers to win more victories. Click here to make your most generous donation today: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/fairtest

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National Measuring School Equity Can Improve Educational Accountability
https://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/inside-school-research/2019/06/how_measuring_equity_can_inform%20school_accountability.html

Colorado Many Seek to Overhaul State’s Test-Driven School Rankings
https://www.denverpost.com/2019/06/18/denver-public-schools-ranking-task-force/

Florida District Seeks to Reduce Excess Testing, Student Stress
https://www.tampabay.com/education/fewer-student-tests-pasco-county-schools-superintendent-is-trying-to-get-rid-of-some-20190625/
Florida State’s School Grades Reflect District Poverty
https://feaweb.org/news/frontline/the-reality-of-school-grades/

Georgia Despite Scandal and Training, Test Cheating Still Occurs
https://www.ajc.com/news/local/despite-scandal-training-test-cheating-still-ocurs/1CeKuz5y4sHDSuXpGpkCvL/

Idaho Test Scores and Poverty
https://magicvalley.com/news/local/education/poverty-is-our-biggest-challenge-in-education/article_fb27f812-3c51-5dde-bafc-75d9b8d9595e.html

Maine Testing Culture Is Why Some Teachers Leave Teaching
http://news.keepmecurrent.com/heres-something-this-is-why-teachers-stop-teaching/

Massachusetts Exam School Admissions Tests Face Legal Challenge
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/06/19/rights-groups-demand-change-exam-schools/YLEOmrAAIEau6lCrXIXYPK/story.html

Michigan House Passes Bill to End WorkKeys Testing Requirement
https://www.monroenews.com/news/20190622/house-moves-to-end-workkeys-test-for-11th-graders

Mississippi Hundreds of Teachers Face Job Loss for Not Passing PRAXIS Exams
https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2019/06/19/jackson-public-schools-teachers-licenses/1497705001/

New York Campaign Seeks to Void Part of Regents Exam
https://www.change.org/p/new-york-state-education-department-do-not-count-part-3-on-the-nys-english-regents

North Carolina Vendor Challenges Testing Contract Aware
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article231903823.html

Ohio New Plan Would Reduce Graduation Testing Requirements
https://www.cleveland.com/news/2019/06/high-school-graduation-would-require-fewer-state-tests-under-senate-plan.html

Pennsylvania Race to “Fix” Schools Ignores Students’ Emotional Learning
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/philadelphia-schools-student-psychology-emotional-health-20190620.html
Pennsylvania Test Scores De-Emphasized in Proposed Teacher Evaluation System
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/06/test-scores-de-emphasized-in-proposed-teacher-evaluation-system-in-pennsylvania.html

Utah Testing Vendor “Musical Chairs” After Multiple Computer Exam Failures
https://www.sltrib.com/news/education/2019/06/18/following-standardized/
Utah Fired Testing Company Still Has Not Recovered Data From This Year’s Exams
https://www.ksl.com/article/46576786/testing-company-that-lost-utah-contract-hasnt-been-paid-since-january-still-working-to-recover-data

Vermont “Annual Snapshot” Tracks School Progress on More Than Scores
https://www.mychamplainvalley.com/news/annual-snapshot-tool-aims-to-improve-vermont-schools/

University Admissions The Days of $1,500/Hour Test Prep May Be Numbered as More Schools Go ACT/SAT Optional
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/some-wealthy-parents-are-dropping-up-to-10000-on-sat-test-prep-for-their-kids-2019-06-21
University Admissions The SAT’s Latest Revision Is Not Enough to Reverse Test-Optional Movement
https://www.wbjournal.com/article/colleges-the-sats-latest-revision-isnt-enough-to-embrace-standardized-testing-again
University Admissions Half of Students at Top Universities Would Have Been Admitted if Only SAT Scores Were Considered
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/more-half-students-americas-top-143000602.html

Worth Reading Walking Away From the “Noble Lie” of High-Stakes Testing
https://cloakinginequity.com/2013/05/20/walking-away-from-high-stakes-tests-a-noble-lie/
Worth Reading Why Standardized Exams Aren’t Working for Students or Teachers
https://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2019/06/19/why-standardized-tests-arent-working-for-teachers.html

Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing
office- (239) 395-6773 mobile- (239) 699-0468
web- http://www.fairtest.org

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