Testing Resistance & Reform News: Nov. 20 - 26, 2013

Heading into the Thanksgiving weekend, testing resistance continued to explode around the nation. The movement to delay Common Core assessments is particularly aggressive in New York with actions by parents, teachers, students and administrators underway in an ever-increasing number of states.  Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan struggles to extract his basketball-sneaker-shod feet from his mouth after denigrating critics of standardized exam overkill. And, there's more evidence that test-optional admissions works well in higher education.

Have a great holiday, then come back well rested and ready to escalate pressure leading into "Testing Reform Spring 2014."

More States Delay Common Core Testing as Concerns Grow
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/11/24/more-states-delay-common-core-testing-as-concerns-grow/?wp_login_redirect=0

Why So Many Parents Hate Common Core Testing -- by Diane Ravitch
http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/25/opinion/ravitch-common-core-standards/

Common Core Standards Are Largest Test-Prep Guide Ever Created
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/living-in-dialogue/2013/11/can_we_rescue_the_common_core_.html

Louisiana Puts Off Common Core Tests and Consequences for Two Years
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/11/louisiana_common_core_parcc_de.html

Use FairTest's Fact Sheet -- Common Core Assessment Myths and Realities
http://www.fairtest.org/common-core-assessments-factsheet

New York Principals Letter on Testing is Model for Other State Campaigns
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/11/21/n-y-school-principals-write-letter-of-concern-about-common-core-tests/

The Opt-Outers
http://nymag.com/news/features/anti-testing-2013-12/#print

Western New York Parents, Teachers, Administrators and Legislators Criticize Common Core Exams
http://www.wbta1490.com/LocalNews/tabid/115/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/4488/Parents-Teachers-Administrators-and-Assembly-Members-Come-Together-to-Address-Common-Core-Exam.aspx

Outcry Over Common Core Testing Should Make State Pause
http://www.newsday.com/columnists/joye-brown/outcry-over-common-core-testing-should-give-state-pause-1.6448887

Education Needs More Individualization, Not Standardization
http://philipstown.info/2013/11/22/opinion-individualization-standardization/

Gym Class Requires a Written Test
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Gym-class-requires-a-written-test-5000270.php

Parents Message to Mayor-Elect deBlasio: Teaching, Not Testing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7h732u7s4I#t=189

Much of Standardized Testing Policy is Outside New NYC Mayor's Control
http://www.ny1.com/content/news/199341/much-of-standardized-testing-system-is-out-of-city-control

Architects of NYC School Grades Admit Errors, Endorse Overhaul
http://gothamschools.org/2013/11/20/architects-of-school-grades-concede-errors-as-overhaul-looms/

Penn. Keystone Graduation Exams Fail Students
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/20131118_Keystone_exams_fail_Pa__students.html

New Mexicans Protest Over-Testing in "Take Back Education Day" Events
http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_24566382/hundreds-turn-out-las-cruces-take-back-education

Tennessee Teachers Fed Up with Test-Driven School Policies
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013311240046&gcheck=1

False Arguments for Rhode Island Graduation Exam
http://www.networkforpubliceducation.org/news/gist-misleads-public-flaws-graduation-plan-providencejournal-com/

Utah's Failed School Grading Scheme
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/57135438-82/schools-system-alternative-grading.html.csp

Failed Oklahoma School Grades: Educational Values Don't Fit a Single Score
http://www.okgazette.com/oklahoma/article-19779-school-values-don%E2.html

Florida Parents Seek to Reduce Testing Overkill
http://www.nbc-2.com/story/24038129/parents-hope-to-reduce-number-of-tests#.UpQP7dKA3IU

Florida Supers Seek End to Politically Manipulated School Grades
http://stateimpact.npr.org/florida/2013/11/21/florida-superintendents-want-to-replace-school-grading-system/

Oregon Group Formed to Challenge Standardized Testing
http://www.opb.org/news/article/group-forms-to-tackle-standardized-testing/

New Jersey Students Protest Test-Score-DrivenTeacher Evaluations
http://www.centraljersey.com/articles/2013/11/20/the_lawrence_ledger/news/doc528d36ec8cc78971276471.txt

Gym Class Requires a Written Test
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Gym-class-requires-a-written-test-5000270.php

How Poverty Impacts Test Scores in Four Graphs
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/19/poverty-test-scores_n_4298345.html

The Tyranny of Standardized Tests
http://www.hcn.org/issues/45.20/the-tyranny-of-standardized-tests

Obama's Basketball Buddy Drops Ball as Education Secretary
http://cloakinginequity.com/2013/11/18/a-top-ten-of-duncans-inanity-obamas-basketball-buddy-drops-ball-on-ed/

Administration Declares Suburban Moms a Terrorist Group
http://studentslast.blogspot.com/2013/11/white-suburban-moms-not-very-bright.htm

Arne Duncan Isn't Just Mean. He's Wrong!
http://www.sabrinajoystevens.com/post/67425314050/arne-duncan-isnt-just-mean-hes-wrong

Educational Alarmism Fuels Excess Testing
http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/editorials/2013/11/23/chester-doubles-down-alarmism-with-excessive-testing/rocQbXs7h5a8s2cugAIIIO/story.html

"Who Writes the Songs?  -- Changing the Education "Reform" Narrative
http://takingnote.learningmatters.tv/?p=6672

Challenging Our Students to Do What? Test Better?
http://www.chicagonow.com/suburban-scene/2013/11/a-lesson-from-boston/

Standardized College Entrance Tests: A Lost Love Affair?
http://bangordailynews.com/2013/11/15/opinion/standardized-college-entrance-tests-a-lost-love-affair/

Test-Optional Admissions Works at DePaul -- Data and Analysis
http://jonboeckenstedt.wordpress.com/2013/11/20/a-look-at-test-optional-results-year-1/