Testing Resistance & Reform News: March 25 – 31, 2020

Most states have now sought waivers from federal testing requirements, which the U.S. Department of Education quickly granted, but several holdouts still need grassroots pressure to lift this burden from students, parents and families In addition, many states have not yet taken action to suspend their own testing mandates (e.g. exit exams, grade promotion score hurdles, tests in subjects beyond English, math and science, exams for homeschoolers, etc.). Assessment reform activists need to make sure that ALL standardized exams are cancelled for Spring 2020 in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

National State-by-State Federal Testing Waiver Tracker
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teaching_now/2020/03/which_states_have_cancelled_spring_tests_because_of_coronavirus.html

National States Ease High School Graduation Requirements as Classroom Closures Extended
https://www.educationdive.com/news/states-ease-graduation-requirements-as-coronavirus-closures-extend/575172/
National Federal Testing Waivers Do Not Cover Homeschooled Students, State Action Needed
https://understandingessa.org/annual-testing-for-homeschooled-students-not-impacted-by-essa-testing-waivers/

Georgia State Board Adopts Waives Allowing District to Cancel End-of-Year Tests
https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/state-board-education-passes-waivers-help-districts-during-coronavirus-closings/E4KOK3SRRZBKBGPEQTX4WT5IDU/

Hawaii Feds Grant Waiver of Annual Testing Requirement
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/03/24/breaking-news/hawaii-gets-federal-approval-to-cancel-standardized-testing-in-public-schools-this-spring/

Indiana School Personnel Relieved by Test Cancellations
https://www.elkharttruth.com/news/school-officials-relieved-about-cancellation-of-standardized-tests/article_7b8850ab-b8b1-5b27-b8ac-6c91c5119355.html

Kentucky All Spring 2020 School Testing Called Off
https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/education/article241476301.html

Massachusetts Parents, Teachers Urge State Test Cancellation
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/03/24/metro/teachers-parents-urge-state-cancel-mcas-testing

Michigan Crisis Creates Opportunity for Assessment Reform
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/2020/03/26/letter-crisis-presents-opportunity-education-reform/2883252001/
Michigan Still Up to Legislature to Suspend Third Grade Promotion Law and Test-Based Teacher Evaluation
https://www.michiganadvance.com/2020/03/29/3rd-graders-were-supposed-to-be-held-back-if-they-couldnt-read-then-covid-19-hit/

Mississippi State Suspends Graduation and Third Grade Promotion Testing Mandates
https://www.wtva.com/content/coronavirus-content/Mississippi-eases-graduation-and-third-grade-rules-for-virus-569136831.html?ref=831

New Hampshire Educators Press Governor to Seek Federal Testing Waiver
https://www.nhpr.org/post/educators-ask-sununu-help-postponing-statewide-tests

New Jersey Governor to Seek Federal Waiver and Cancel State Exams
https://www.phillyvoice.com/new-jersey-cancels-standardized-testing-student-learning-assessment-parcc-coronavirus-covid-19/
New Jersey Some Sophomores and Juniors Might Take Make-Up Tests This Summer
https://www.nj.com/education/2020/03/nj-canceled-standardized-tests-but-some-students-might-take-them-anyway-heres-why.html

North Carolina Legislative Action Needed to Suspend Test-Score Related Educational Consequences
https://www.wfae.org/post/if-virus-brings-break-nc-testing-ripple-effects-could-be-huge

North Dakota Tests Cancelled, Federal Waiver Sought
https://www.am1100theflag.com/news/16194-state-superintendent-governor-seek-testing-waiver

Ohio State Waives Consequences from Testing Suspension
https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local-education/coronavirus-state-cancels-school-testing-sets-graduation-and-voucher-rules/oc2iW7BtkruLPlxF9z8OMO/

Tennessee Legislature Passed Bill to Drop Annual Student Testing Requirements
https://www.thetomahawk.com/local-news/tennessee-legislature-drops-student-testing-requirements-amid-coronavirus-crisis/

Virginia Superintendent Says Seniors Can Graduate without Passing Exams
https://henrycountyenterprise.com/lane-class-of-2020-seniors-on-track-to-earn-diploma-are-able-to-graduate/

West Virginia Washington Will Not Punish State for Preemptive Test Cancellation
https://www.wvgazettemail.com/coronavirus/feds-won-t-punish-wv-for-not-standardized-testing-juniors/article_f901b03a-d75d-5b7e-9019-bc10926ceb4a.html

University Admissions Coronavirus Accelerates Test-Optional Movement
https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2020/03/30/coronavirus-leads-many-colleges-including-some-are-competitive-go-test

Worth Reading How to Cap This Unprecedented School Year (and Many Others)
https://aftvoices.org/how-to-cap-this-unprecedented-school-year-2523445f13a6

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

Tags: