Testing Resistance & Reform News: March 20 – 26, 2019

The still-unfolding college admissions scandal continues to dominate testing-related news, and FairTest is at the center of many stories. At the same time, coverage of a steady stream of K-12 assessment reform initiatives demonstrates the growing strength of the grassroots movement dedicated to ending standardized exam misuse and overuse. Fallout from reliance on flawed tests to select and evaluate teachers is a major theme in many of this week’s clips.

National It’s Up to Betsy Devos as States Seek to Revise ESSA Plans
https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2019/03/20/the-ball-is-in-betsy-devos-court.html

Alabama Bill Filed to Eliminate Common Core
https://www.al.com/news/2019/03/del-marsh-files-bill-to-eliminate-common-core-in-alabama.html

Florida Registration Fees Cut for Controversial Teacher Test
https://www.wtxl.com/news/local-news/i-team-investigates/fl-dept-of-education-proposes-lower-fees-for-examinees-taking-state-teacher-certification-exam
Florida End the Jeb Bush Legacy of Teaching to the Test
https://www.dailycommercial.com/news/20190322/letter-to-editor-noose-around-neck-of-public-education

Georgia It’s Easier to Blame Teachers for Low Test Scores Than Tackle Poverty
https://www.ajc.com/blog/get-schooled/opinion-easier-blame-teachers-for-achievement-gap-than-tackle-poverty/3BQtOo9xQ0V509RElqrq4K/

Illinois Teacher Licensing Tests Come Under Fire
https://www.bnd.com/news/politics-government/article228222134.html

Michigan Bill Would Delay Heavier Weight on Student Test Scores in Teacher Evaluation
https://www.mlive.com/news/2019/03/heavier-weight-on-student-test-scores-in-teacher-evaluations-would-be-delayed-under-senate-bill.html
Michigan Teachers Say Standardized Tests Are Useless
https://www.bridgemi.com/talent-education/michigan-teachers-standardized-tests-are-useless-and-classes-are-too-big

New York High School Admissions Controversy Shows Flaws of Standardized Exams
https://www.vox.com/first-person/2019/3/22/18276408/new-york-city-stuyvesant-high-school-brooklyn-tech-science
New York Chancellor Says Selective Schools Admissions Test Is Neither Valid Nor Reliable
https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2019/03/20/nyc-schools-chancellor-slams-test/
New York How Test-Prep Tutoring Makes the System Even More Unfair
https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-another-education-advantage-wealthy-20190320-cshwlq7ofnaqpgm3nwcaxtwwqq-story.html

North Carolina Some Legislators Think Students Are Tested Too Much
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article228277809.html

Ohio State Board Proposal Would Allow Students Alternatives to Graduation Test
https://fox45now.com/news/local/state-education-proposal-could-give-students-options-to-standardize-tests

Oregon Assessment Reform Advocates Fight Test-and-Punish “Combine”
https://www.eugeneweekly.com/2019/03/21/up-against-the-machine/

Pennsylvania Should Standardized Testing Drive Curriculum?
https://www.dailyamerican.com/entertainment/highschoolhighlights/question-of-the-week-should-standardized-testing-drive-curriculum/article_1c2f803f-91f7-5b52-aa12-a37e24d5685d.html
Pennsylvania Why Use Exams that Keep Teachers of Color Out of Classrooms
https://www.penncapital-star.com/commentary/we-need-more-teachers-of-color-so-why-do-we-use-tests-that-keep-them-out-of-the-classroom-opinion/

Texas Parents Worry That Students Struggling With State Tests May Not Graduate
https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/parents-worry-students-struggling-with-staar-test-won-t-graduate/1863889773
Texas New Study Affirms State Tests Are Written at Higher-Than-Grade-Level
https://www.texasmonthly.com/news/new-study-reaffirms-staar-reading-tests-not-on-grade-level/

Washington State Should End Over-Reliance on Tests for Entry Into Teaching
https://www.yakimaherald.com/opinion/editorial-state-should-end-flawed-system-for-entry-into-teacher/article_da6561a0-4f29-11e9-a15c-bf0603eb32b2.html

University Admissions FairTest Reacts to Scandal
http://www.fairtest.org/fairtest-reacts-2019-college-admissions-scandal
University Admissions Scandal Shows Problems with ACT/SAT Tests
https://www.gainesville.com/opinion/20190319/editorial-scandal-shows-problems-with-act-sat-tests
University Admission University of Denver Adopts Test-Optional Policy
https://www.du.edu/news/university-denver-moves-test-optional-admission-process

Worth Reading School Accountability Should Begin with Politicians and Test-Makers
https://gadflyonthewallblog.com/2019/03/21/school-accountability-begins-with-the-people-who-make-the-rules-a-code-of-conduct-for-politicians-and-test-makers/
Worth Reading The Lie Behind Standardized Testing
https://www.boredteachers.com/community-posts/the-lie-behind-standardized-testing

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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