Testing Resistance & Reform News: June 8 – 14, 2016

Another week of standardized exam foul-ups leads more states to de-emphasize test scores or, at least, question their assessment policies. Check out FairTest’s chronology of computerized testing problems at:
https://fairtest.orgdata.com.org/computerized-testing-problems-chronology

Alaska State Seeks Federal Testing Waiver After Computer Exam Failed
http://www.newsminer.com/news/education/state-seeks-standardized-testing…

California State at Odds with Feds Over School Rating Proposals
https://edsource.org/2016/california-and-proposed-federal-regulations-at…
California New Teacher Evaluations Do Not Rely on Test Scores
http://www.latimes.com/local/education/la-me-edu-lausd-teacher-evaluatio…

Florida Test Secrecy and the Public Interest
https://dianeravitch.net/2016/06/10/insider-leak-test-secrecy-in-florida…
Florida State Assessment Rules Are Testing The Public’s Patience
http://www.ocala.com/article/20160613/OPINION/160619966?p=1&tc=pg

Georgia More Questions Than Answers on Standardized Testing
http://flagpole.com/news/comment/2016/06/08/more-questions-than-answers-…
Georgia Local Board Tells State: Don’t Count Test Scores in School Grading
http://onlineathens.com/breaking-news/2016-06-11/clarke-county-school-bo…

Idaho State Ed. Subcommittee Ready to Push Back Against Fed Regulations
http://www.idahoednews.org/news/education-subcommittee-ready-push-back-f…

Indiana Why We Test
https://sbloom2.wordpress.com/2016/06/09/why-we-test/

Kentucky State Ed Commissioner to Feds: Back Off On Dictating Test Changes
http://www.kentucky.com/news/local/education/article83338327.html

Maryland Commission Struggles to Find Ways to Reduce Testing
http://marylandreporter.com/2016/06/08/testing-commission-struggles-to-r…

Massachusetts Lawmakers Should Back Real Assessment Reform
https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/letters/2016/06/10/mass-lawmakers-sh…
Massachusetts Tests Undermine Teaching
http://www.bostonherald.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/2016/06/june_8…
Massachusetts Can Test Scores Measure Teaching Effectiveness?
http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/06/massachusetts_debates…

New Jersey More than 10,000 Allowed to Graduate Based on Portfolio Assessment Appeals from Test Rules
http://www.nj.com/education/2016/06/10k_nj_students_using_appeals_proces…

New Mexico Art Activist for Less Testing, More Learning
http://neatoday.org/2016/06/10/new-mexico-art-activism/

New York Disclosed Items Lead to Many Questions About Test Quality
http://nycpublicschoolparents.blogspot.com/2016/06/fred-smith-on-questio…
New York State Expands Non-Test Graduation Options for Students with Learning Disabilities
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Regents-OK-plan-to-ease-disabled…

Ohio Cleveland Teachers Battle Excessive Testing Mandate
http://www.peoplesworld.org/cleveland-teachers-battle-excessive-testing-…
Ohio Will New Tests Create a High School Graduation Train Wreck
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/06/will_new_tests_create_a…
Ohio State Board Likely to Lower Test Cut Scores
http://www.mydaytondailynews.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/…

Oregon Local School Board Urges Parents to Opt Their Children Out of Standardized Tests
http://registerguard.com/rg/news/local/34472935-75/springfield-school-bo…

Texas Foul Ups Lead to Scrapped Test Scores
https://www.texastribune.org/2016/06/10/citing-ongoing-issues-state-scra…
Texas After the Tests Imploded, Now What?
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/gray-matters/article/Death-STAAR-8…
Texas Superintendents Criticize Test-Driven School Rankings
http://www.tdtnews.com/news/article_6210bf04-2dff-11e6-a87d-6b3e413bfe5d…

Wisconsin Standardized Testing Plagued by Computer Glitches
http://whbl.com/news/articles/2016/jun/07/standardized-testing-glitches-…

College Admissions ACT Test Administration Cancelled in Asia After Security Breach
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/06/10/leaked-ac…
College Admissions New SAT Hastily Thrown Together, According to College Board Whistleblower
https://deutsch29.wordpress.com/2016/06/09/former-college-board-exec-new…

Worth Reading Interview with Diane Ravitch: Why Did Obama Align His Ed Policies with George Bush’s
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/06/13/diane-rav…
Worth Reading What’s at Risk When Schools Focus Too Much on Data (Like Test Scores)
http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2016/06/07/whats-at-risk-when-schools-focu…

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