Testing Resistance & Reform News: March 15 – 21, 2017

Responding to escalating grassroots pressure against standardized exam overkill, many state legislatures and education boards are advancing plans reduce testing overuse and misuse. Close monitoring by constituents is necessary to ensure that high-sounding proposals are actually implemented.

National Tell Your State to Consult with Stakeholders Over ESSA Plans
https://truthinamericaneducation.com/elementary-and-secondary-education-…
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2017/03/essa_involvement_un…

California New School Rating System Goes Beyond Test Scores
http://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/education/article138642753.html

Delaware The Myth of School Grading
https://exceptionaldelaware.wordpress.com/2017/03/21/apples-oranges-the-…

Florida Parents Push Back at Jeb Bush Plan for Higher Test Score Requirements
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/school-zone/os-fsa-sco…
Florida House Panel Advances Bill to Make Some Tests Available to Public
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/florida-house-panel-moves-to-mak…

Georgia State Legislature Sends Governor Bill Barring Punishment for Test Refusal
http://www.ajc.com/news/state–regional-education/georgia-lawmakers-send…
Georgia Legislators Consider Alternatives to Standardized Exams
http://www.ajc.com/news/state–regional-education/lawmakers-consider-alt…

Illinois Opt-Out Tool Kit
http://www.ilraiseyourhand.org/testing2016
Illinois Opt-Out Families Criticize Pressure to Take PARCC
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/cps-families-teachers-cite-pressure-to-…

Indiana State Seeks to Delay Promised Test Revamp
http://wboi.org/post/mccormick-asks-2019-start-date-new-test-not-2018

Massachusetts State Plays Shell Game Over New Test’s Contents
https://www.baystateparent.com/2017/03/14/state-officials-vague-on-new-s…

Minnesota Stop the State Testing Madness
http://www.sctimes.com/story/opinion/2017/03/16/stop-madness-mca-testing…

New Jersey Lawmakers Try to Spike PARCC Graduation Test
http://www.nj.com/education/2017/03/nj_parcc_graduation_requirement.html
New Jersey Why All Parents Should Consider Refusing the PARCC
https://www.tapinto.net/towns/montville/categories/letters-to-the-editor…
New Jersey The Importance of Pushing Back Against PARCC
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/17/03/19/op-ed-the-legislative-import…

New York Grassroots Organizations Unite to Urge Massive Opt-Out
http://www.nysape.org/nysape-pr-optout2017.html
New York Regents Dump Teacher Test With Large Discriminatory Impact
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/13/nyregion/ny-regents-teacher-exams-als…
New York How to Opt Out of State Tests Video
http://www.optoutnyc.com/

Ohio Use Evaluations to Help Teachers Improve, Not Label
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/03/ohio_teacher_evaluation…
Ohio District-Mandated Exams Are Part of Overall Testing Crush
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/03/local_tests_are_part_of…
Ohio Test-Based Graduation Crisis
http://plunderbund.com/2017/03/19/the-graduation-crisis-in-one-page/

Pennsylvania State Shies Away From A-to-F School Grading System
http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/pennsylvania-is-shying-away-from-c…
Pennsylvania Academic Test Mandates Hurt Need to Develop Future Craftsmen
http://www.lockhaven.com/opinion/editorials/2017/03/academic-test-mandat…
Pennsylvania State Considers Changes to Testing and Accountability Measures
http://triblive.com/news/education/12096521-74/pennsylvania-department-o…

South Carolina 1,300 Students Forced to Retake Mandatory ACT When Computers Freeze Up
http://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/community/beaufort-news/article13…

Tennessee Lawmakers Want to Roll Back A-to-F School Grading System
http://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/tn/2017/03/20/tennessee-lawmakers-want-to…

Texas Education Committee Chairs Propose Major Changes to A-to-F School Grades
http://www.khou.com/news/local/texas/education-committee-chairs-push-maj…
Texas Legislator: Testing Helps Create New Separate And Unequal
http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/opinion/columnists/2017/03/18/gonzlez-n…

Washington State Could Say “Goodbye” to High-Stakes Graduation Test
http://tdn.com/news/local/capitol-dispatch-state-could-say-goodbye-to-hi…

University Admissions Test-Optional Schools Break Down Admissions Barriers
http://www.shsoutherner.net/features/2017/03/14/test-optional-colleges-b…
University Admissions FairTest Database of 925+ Colleges and Universities That Don’t Require ACT/SAT Scores
https://fairtest.orgdata.com.org/university/optional

Worth Reading Top Ten Reasons to Opt Out of Tests
https://vimeo.com/208262836
Worth Viewing “More . . . Than a Score” Video About Kindergarten Testing
https://vimeo.com/203722082

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