While nearly all this spring’s K-12 exams were cancelled by coronavirus-driven school closures, there’s still lots of action in the university admissions assessment reform arena. In particularly, the University of California Regents are about to vote on a proposal to phase out use of the ACT and SAT at that system’s nine undergraduate campuses, and the rollout of on-line Advanced Placement exams has been plagued by technical SNAFUs that the tests’ sponsor should have foreseen.
Massachusetts Companies Bid to Develop “Fairer” Exam for Boston’s Selective High Schools
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/05/15/metro/bidders-step-forward-design-new-entrance-test-boston-exam-schools/
Massachusetts Parents and Teachers Respond to Boston’s “Tone Deaf” Requirement for New Tests
https://schoolyardnews.com/parents-and-teachers-respond-to-new-required-tests-3f9198ab1cd7
New York Report Calls for Ending “Screens,” Including Exams, for Middle School Admission
https://patch.com/new-york/new-york-city/report-nyc-schools-eliminate-middle-school-screens-make-high-school
New York Scores Cancelled After Administrator Promoted Cheating on Selective High School Entrance Test
https://nypost.com/2020/05/16/admission-exam-scores-canceled-in-cheating-scandal-at-nyc-school/
North Carolina No End-of-Grade Tests in 2020
https://www.wataugademocrat.com/blowingrocket/covid19/no-end-of-grade-tests-for-students-this-year-temporary-grading-policy-approved/article_23ea5662-3224-50da-8edd-9d1354a0157f.html
Pennsylvania Will Standardized Testing Be Suspended Again Next Year
https://gadflyonthewallblog.com/2020/05/16/why-high-stakes-testing-was-cancelled-this-year-and-probably-will-be-next-year-too/
Tennessee Pearson Seeks Multi-Million Dollar Payment for Exams Cancelled by Pandemic
https://tn.chalkbeat.org/2020/5/14/21259416/tennessee-must-pay-millions-of-dollars-to-testing-company-pearson-for-tnready-prep-work
Utah Extend Standardized Testing Suspension Into the Future
https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2020/5/13/21257309/utah-schools-k-12-standardized-testing-stop-data-driven-elementary-high-school
Utah Testing Company Sues State Seeking Payment for Cancelled Contract
https://www.sltrib.com/news/education/2020/05/15/standardized-testing/
University Admissions University of California President Proposes Phasing Out ACT/SAT Requirements
https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2020/05/18/university-california-president-proposes-dropping-satact
University Admissions Students Report Big Problems with Online Advanced Placement Exams
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/05/15/college-board-says-new-online-ap-tests-are-going-well-students-report-big-problems/
University Admissions Will the SAT Become a Thing of the Past?
https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherrim/2020/05/18/will-college-boards-sat-become-a-thing-of-the-past/#1001c117e292
Worth Reading Would Schools “Fly Blind” Without Standardized Tests?
https://www.forbes.com/sites/petergreene/2020/05/16/without-the-big-standardized-test-would-schools-be-flying-blind/#6d3840826722
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