Building on recent successes (no K-12 standardized exams this past spring and 1,250 colleges now ACT/SAT-optional), activists — often with FairTest assistance and materials — are turning their attention to extending testing suspensions for at least another year. To help win more victories, please support FairTest’s assessment reform leadership — including these weekly updates — by making as generous as possible a contribution today. Either click here:
National States Moving Toward 2020-2021 School Year Exam Waivers
https://www.educationdive.com/news/states-move-toward-waiving-standardized-tests-for-2020-21/580570/
California Standardized Testing Maintains Systematic Racism in Public Schools
https://richmondstandard.com/community/education/2020/06/29/op-ed-standardized-testing-maintains-systemic-racism-in-public-schools/
Florida Time to Talk About Testing
https://jaxkidsmatter.blogspot.com/2020/06/florida-lets-talk-about-testing-draft.html
Georgia State Initiatives Process to Seek Federal Testing Waiver
https://www.ajc.com/news/state–regional-education/georgia-takes-first-formal-step-dismiss-standardized-tests-schools/k8teVJxvnqOSthRru6ukJI/
Georgia Legislature Passes Bill Cutting State Standardized Exam Requirements
https://www.ajc.com/news/local-education/bill-give-georgia-students-fewer-milestones-tests-heads-kemp/nOwZYFDLYX0oN6nSPfp4TM/
Indiana Petition to Suspend Standardized Testing in New Academic Year
https://www.kokomotribune.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/letter-please-suspend-uniform-testing/article_ded260c0-b68f-11ea-b862-1f24e4b19173.html
Massachusetts Teachers Back Bill Calling for 4-Year Moratorium on State Exams
https://massteacher.org/news/2020/06/mta-backs-comerford-bill-calling-for-mcas-moratorium
Michigan Superintendents, Legislators Call for Pausing Standardized Tests for Another School Year
https://www.bridgemi.com/talent-education/michigan-moves-pause-standardized-tests-amid-coronavirus
New Jersey Parents Call on Governor to Seek Renewal of Federal Test Waiver, End Graduation Exam
https://www.njspotlight.com/2020/06/op-ed-keep-students-at-the-center-when-new-jersey-schools-reopen/
Oklahoma House Members Seek Standardized Exam Waiver
https://okcfox.com/news/local/educators-request-oklahoma-adopt-standardized-test-waiver
Oklahoma State Testing: To Waive or Not to Waive?
https://www.tulsakids.com/state-testing-to-waive-or-not-to-waive/
South Carolina State Senate Votes to Suspend Tests for One Year
https://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/article243731842.html
Tennessee Pressure Grows to Cancel Standardized Exams for Second Straight Year
https://tn.chalkbeat.org/2020/6/26/21305010/calls-grow-for-tennessee-to-cancel-tnready-testing-for-second-straight-year
Texas Parents Group Calls for Suspension of 2020-2021 School Exams
http://www.tamsatx.org/assets/pdf/PR-testingwaiver-COR.pdf
Texas Some Lawmakers Seek to End State Testing for Next Year
https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2020/06/24/texas-lawmakers-end-staar-testing-next-school-year/
College Admissions Make ACT/SAT Scores Optional in College Admissions
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/6/25/21300388/act-sat-mandatory-standardized-test-scores-college-admissions-editorial
College Admissions It’s Smart to Bypass ACT/SAT Tests
https://buffalonews.com/news/opinion/editorial/colleges-are-smart-to-bypass-act-sat/article_2fd1c3d6-b707-11ea-96ff-5386a23a3ada.html
College Admissions Graduate Programs Drop GRE After Online Version Raises Fairness Questions
https://www.sciencemag.org/careers/2020/06/graduate-programs-drop-gre-after-online-version-raises-concerns-about-fairness
Worth Reading Combat the Standardized Testing Horror Show . . . and Successors Waiting in the Wings
https://nancyebailey.com/2020/06/24/the-standardized-testing-horror-show-is-not-over/
Worth Reading Test-and-Punish Defenders Decry Effective “War on Testing”
https://thehill.com/opinion/education/504951-the-war-on-testing
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