Policy-makers are finally getting the message about the failure of high-stakes testing for students, teachers and schools. There’s still a long way to go, but real assessment reform progress is definitely underway in many states.
AlabamaGovernor Wants to End Use of “Failing” Label for Low-Scoring Schools
https://www.al.com/news/2019/11/gov-kay-ivey-wants-to-stop-using-failing-label-on-alabama-schools.html
ArizonaThrow the Testing Mess Into the Trash Heap of History
https://www.tucsonweekly.com/TheRange/archives/2019/11/18/theyve-improved-the-states-school-grading-system-now-it-tells-us-even-less-than-it-used-to
ColoradoLawmaker Wants SAT Scores Removed From School Transcripts
https://denver.cbslocal.com/2019/11/13/colorado-requires-sat-scores-high-school-transcripts-lawmaker/
FloridaLawmakers Question Value of High-Stakes Tests
https://valliantnews.com/2019/11/14/lawmakers-question-value-of-high-stakes-testing-in-state-schools/
Florida Teachers Say Test Mania Obscures Focus on What Matters in Education
https://feaweb.org/news/frontline/overtesting-of-floridas-students/
IllinoisSuperintendent Says State’s College Readiness Standards Inaccurately Assess Some Students
https://evanstonnow.com/story/education/jan-smith/2019-11-14/83501/bavis-college-readiness-indicators-not-predictive-for
IndianaFight Grows Over Test-Based School Accountability Proposal
https://chicagocrusader.com/indiana-doe-school-accountability-panel-recommendations-meets-senate-opposition/
Indiana Legislators Open to Teacher Demands for Testing Rollback
https://www.ibj.com/articles/indiana-lawmakers-signal-openness-to-some-but-not-all-teacher-demands-before-rally
IowaAssessment Fatigue From New State States Confuses Scores’ Meaning
https://www.nonpareilonline.com/news/education/new-state-assessment-brings-new-challenges-to-school-district/article_3f5f3382-5a9e-552b-bfa3-4cc75894746a.html
LouisianaTest-Based District Rankings Strongly Tied to School Community Poverty
http://louisianaeducator.blogspot.com/
MaineRedefining School Success Beyond Test Scores
https://www.mainepublic.org/post/redefining-school-success-maine-education-leaders-seek-community-input-meeting-student-needs
MinnesotaA District Looks Beyond Tests To Measure Student Success
https://www.educationdive.com/news/curricular-counsel-how-a-minnesota-district-looks-beyond-assessment-to-mea/566999/
New JerseyScrap All State-Mandated Tests; Follow the Minimum Federal Requirement
https://www.nj.com/opinion/2019/11/nj-teacher-dump-standardized-tests.html
New YorkMore Testing Will Not Improve Academic Performance
https://www.gothamgazette.com/opinion/8908-more-testing-is-not-the-answer-for-new-york-city-students-but-smaller-classes-could-be
OhioParents Speak Out Against Third Grade Reading Promotion Test
https://www.wtol.com/article/news/education/third-grade-reading-guarantee-ohio-standardized-testing/512-d46480f4-6722-451e-a08e-27c72e4264c6
VermontProficiency Based Grading Causing Confusion
https://www.wcax.com/content/news/Vt-education-officials-admit-proficiency-based-grading-causing-confusion-564808721.html
WashingtonStudents Now Have Graduation Options Beyond Standardized Tests
https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/washington-students-have-new-options-to-earn-a-high-school/article_78824a1b-1512-561d-9618-691236d298bc.html
University AdmissionsWill California Drop Admissions Tests? — CNN Interviews FairTest
http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/tv/2019/11/16/will-u-of-california-drop-sat.cnn.html
University Admissions Two More Schools Go ACT/SAT Optional
https://www.prweb.com/releases/university_of_la_verne_adopts_test_optional_admission_policy/prweb16720966.htm
https://www.mininggazette.com/news/pressrelease/2019/11/finlandia-introduces-test-optional-admissions-policy/
Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing
office-(239) 395-6773mobile-(239) 699-0468
web-http://www.fairtest.org