Testing Resistance & Reform News: May 20 -26, 2020

What a week!

  • The University of California Regents voted unanimously to phase out ACT/SAT admissions test requirements.
  • High school students and their allies sued the College Board for administering defective, on-line Advanced Placement Exams.
  • And, many states began considering proposals to extend their suspensions of high-stakes K-12 tests into the next school year.

As news reports demonstrate, FairTest was at the center of all these major initiatives. You can help make more assessment reform victories possible by contributing today:

Donate to FairTest
or mail your check to 196 Spring Street, Arlington MA 02476

Florida Is Testing Overkill on the Way Out?
https://www.tampabay.com/news/education/2020/05/22/florida-canceled-student-exams-this-spring-is-testing-on-its-way-out/
Florida Exam Cancellations End Automatic Grade Retention, Give More Power to Teachers and Parents
https://www.tampabay.com/news/pasco/2020/05/25/pasco-schools-adopt-rules-for-students-final-grades/

Georgia Pay More Attention to Mental Health Than to Test Scores
https://www.ajc.com/blog/get-schooled/opinion-pay-more-attention-mental-health-than-test-scores/p1NOhFFKKUvws3IHBLU83H/

Indiana Using Flawed Exam Scores Would Have Lowered Many Schools’ Grades
https://www.nwitimes.com/news/ilearn-scores-would-have-lowered-a-f-grades-in-two-thirds-of-nwi-districts-data/article_4c8d671c-291f-53bf-a6ee-7a40f78e27d5.html

Maryland School Board Member May Have Been Connected to Test Cheating Scandal
https://foxbaltimore.com/news/project-baltimore/state-report-links-bcps-board-member-to-alleged-cheating-scandal

Massachusetts State Board Could Waive Some Graduation Testing Requirements
https://www.boston25news.com/news/health/state-education-board-may-waive-some-mcas-tests/WP2PRZX6SBGQJBDPSYMYYN46RM/

New York Pandemic May Force NYC to Overhaul Selective School Admissions
https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-better-high-school-admissions-20200525-3bgu22tuj5cabhdplsz3e2bmxy-story.html

Pennsylvania State Wants Parents to Administer Standardized Tests to Children at Home
https://gadflyonthewallblog.com/2020/05/23/pennsylvania-wants-you-to-give-standardized-tests-to-your-kids-at-home/
Pennsylvania New Law Makes Extensive Changes in Teacher Evaluation
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/a-guide-to-assessment-changes-in-42221/

South Carolina Should Standardized Tests Be Waived for Next School Year?
https://wpde.com/news/local/should-standardized-testing-be-waived-for-south-carolina-students

Texas State Offers Parents Free End-of-Year Self-Test for Their Students
https://www.reformaustin.org/education/texas-education-agency-offers-children-free-self-test/

Wisconsin The Decline of Standardized Exams
https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2020/05/22/the-decline-of-standardized-tests/

University Admissions California Regents Vote Unanimously to Phase Out ACT/SAT Testing Requirement
https://www.educationdive.com/news/u-of-california-eliminates-sat-act-as-admissions-requirement/578373/

University Admissions College Board Sued Over Advanced Placement Test Access and Technology Failures
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/05/20/class-action-lawsuit-filed-against-college-board-about-botched-ap-tests

International China Teachers Barred From Revealing Student Test Scores or Rankings
http://www.ecns.cn/news/2020-05-26/detail-ifzwqsxz6424553.shtml

Accelerate the momentum for testing resistance and reform — contribute to FairTest today either by clicking here:
Donate to FairTest
or mailing your check to FairTest, 196 Spring Street, Arlington, MA 02476

Thank you!

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

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