As the school year wraps up in many parts of the country, the assessment reform movement is simultaneously focused on the semester’s final round of standardized exams and on how state plans under the Every Student Succeeds Act will change testing in the future.
NationalHow States Plan to Evaluate Schools in the ESSA Era: The Good, the Bad and What You Can Do
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/05/13/the-good-and-bad-news-about-how-some-states-want-to-evaluate-schools-in-post-nclb-era/
AlabamaState Hopes to Dump ACT Aspire and Not Test Students for a Year to Reconfigure Assessments
http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/05/after_yerethinkars_of_poor_scores_ala.html
CaliforniaGather Multiple Measures of School Success to Bring Stakeholders on Board
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/learning_forwards_pd_watch/2017/05/bring_stakeholders_on_board_by_gathering_multiple_measures_of_success.html
FloridaPushback Against Embrace of Excessive Testing
http://www.naplesnews.com/story/opinion/contributors/2017/05/10/commentary-putting-collier-school-analysis-test/101414074/
Florida State, Districts Try to Scuttle Opt-Out Legal Challenge
http://www.news4jax.com/education/state-districts-look-to-scuttle-opt-out-case
GeorgiaGovernor Vetoes Bill Allowing Parents to Opt Their Children Out of Standardized Tests
http://www.ajc.com/news/state–regional-education/gov-deal-vetoes-bill-allowing-students-opt-out-state-tests-without-punishment/MtixAZeHtc17pE2wab4UaM/
Georgia Opt-Out Activists Not Giving Up
http://news.wabe.org/post/group-behind-vetoed-testing-opt-out-bill-not-giving
IllinoisCommunity Forum on Parents, Teachers and Testing Policy
http://www.ctunet.com/events/parents-and-teachers-driving-testing-policy
MassachusettsCivil Rights Groups Call for Investigation of Boston Exam School Admissions
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/2017/05/hub_civil_rights_groups_calling_for_review_of_exam_school_admissions
MinnesotaThe Test is Failing, Not Our Schools
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/4266302-iron-range-educators-view-it-not-our-schools-are-failing
NevadaExpert Gives Legislators Top 10 Research Reasons for Not Evaluating Teachers Based on Student Test Scores
http://vamboozled.com/also-last-thursday-in-nevada-the-top-ten-research-based-reasons-why-large-scale-standardized-tests-should-not-be-used-to-evaluate-teachers/
New JerseyOutspoken Testing Critic Selected for Local School Board Seat
http://www.newjerseyhills.com/bernardsville_news/news/outspoken-mom-selected-to-fill-school-board-seat-in-bernards/article_6f843a2b-d29e-5e53-bdc3-46d7bfdca557.html
New Jersey End Misuse of PARCC as Graduation Requirement
http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2017/05/wipe_out_standardized_test_as_nj_grad_exam_feedbac.html
New YorkDraft ESSA Compliance Plan Focuses on Support Not Sanctions to Encourage Learning Growth
http://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/ny/2017/05/08/new-york-state-says-it-wants-to-expand-its-definition-of-success-and-focus-on-equity-in-judging-schools/
OhioStill Time to Weigh In on State ESSA Plan
http://www.thisweeknews.com/news/20170515/educators-still-testing-waters-on-essa
PennsylvaniaOpt-Out Parents Take A Stand for Better Schools
http://www.centredaily.com/news/local/education/article150440622.html
South DakotaESSA Plan Expands Indicators for Academic Success, Adds School Climate
http://kelo.com/news/articles/2017/may/16/every-student-succeeds-act-guidelines-announced/
TexasState Agrees to No Longer Require Student Test Scores in Teacher Evaluations
http://www.expressnews.com/news/education/article/TEA-and-teachers-organizations-reach-agreement-11140291.php
Texas Teachers Will Pursue Lawsuit to Reverse Test-Score-Based Terminations
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Houston-teachers-to-pursue-lawsuit-over-secret-11139692.php
Texas If Politicians Think Testing Is So Important, Make Them Take Exams
https://www.lewisvilletexan.com/news/opinion/column-if-politicians-think-tests-so-important-let-them-take-it/
InternationalEngland Why the Case for a National Test Boycott Is Growing Stronger
http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/education/secret-school-why-the-case-for-a-national-boycott-of-sats-exams-is-growing-stronger-1-8534578
University AdmissionsAfter Six Decades of Denials, College Board Finally Admits That SAT Coaching Can Boost Scores
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/05/09/can-coaching-truly-boost-sat-scores-for-years-the-college-board-said-no-now-it-says-yes/
University Admissions Bloomfield College Joins ACT/SAT Optional Admissions Movemen
http://www.bloomfield.edu/about-us/news/bloomfield-college-announces-new-test-optional-admission-policy
University Admissions The Advanced Placement Exam Monopoly
https://education.good.is/features/ap-classes-a-scam-or-smart-move
Worth Reading (and Viewing)Education Activists Craft Viral Videos
http://www.livingindialogue.com/education-activists-craft-viral-videos/