Testing Resistance & Reform News: November 14 – 20, 2018

A very Happy Thanksgiving to all! FairTest is especially thankful for all the grassroots activists and policymakers who have won so many assessment reform victories in 2018.

You can help the movement to end testing misuse and overuse become even stronger by making your “Giving Tuesday” donation to FairTest during this holiday week.

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National Debate Continues Around NAEP “Proficiency” Levels and Labels
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2018/11/when_is_proficient_insufficient_NAEP.html

Arkansas District Reviews Formative Assessment Data
https://www.thecabin.net/news/20181117/linn-assessments-to-gauge-progress

California For Better Schools, Don’t Evaluate Teachers with Test Scores, Coach Them
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-kirp-teacher-coaching-better-than-evaluation-20181116-story.html

Connecticut What Do Teacher Licensing Test Have to Do with Becoming a Good Educator?
https://today.uconn.edu/2018/11/op-ed-just-passing-tests-wont-make-teachers-good/#

Indiana Confusion After Schools Given Two Different Grades
https://duboiscountyherald.com/b/superintendents-two-letter-grades-send-mixed-message

Louisiana New School Grading System Ignores Critical Factors in Education
http://louisianaeducator.blogspot.com/2018/11/the-new-school-performance-scores-and.html

New Jersey Retiring Superintendent Explains Evolution Against Testing Overkill
https://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/us/2018/11/13/former-camden-superintendent-on-testing-the-drawbacks-currently-outweigh-the-benefits/

New Mexico Are “A to F” School Grades on the Way Out?
https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/education/2018/11/19/nm-ped-website-highlights-school-grades-but-grades-eliminated-michelle-lujan-grisham/2059468002/

New York Just-Elected Legislators Speak Out Against School Testing, Privatization Agenda
https://progressive.org/public-school-shakedown/insurgent-lawmakers-against-school-privatization-181119/

North Carolina Teachers Are More Than Their Value-Added Exam Scores
http://notesfromthechalkboard.com/

Ohio Graduation Test Rules Could Be Eased Temporarily as Bridge to Permanent Overhaul
https://www.cleveland.com/news/2018/11/ohio-graduation-requirements-could-be-eased-temporarily-as-state-school-board-seeks-permanent-overhaul.html

Pennsylvania New State School Evaluation Tool De-Emphasizes Test Scores
http://www2.philly.com/philly/education/how-does-your-district-measure-up-pa-issues-new-tool-to-evaluate-schools-20181115.html

South Carolina High-Stakes Testing Called “Cancer of Public Education System” by Retiring School Board Member
http://www.wrhi.com/2018/11/audio-former-rhsd-board-member-calls-high-stakes-testing-the-cancer-of-the-public-education-system-146794
South Carolina School Report Cards Delayed for Weeks by Vendors’ Data Errors
https://www.postandcourier.com/news/south-carolina-schools-chief-blames-vendor-for-last-minute-report/article_eaa82a56-e751-11e8-bbf1-d30728f165bb.html

Texas Basing District Grades on One Multiple Choice Test Does Not Add Up
https://www.dailytrib.com/2018/11/13/bcisd-message-basing-district-grades-on-staar-test-doesnt-add-up/

Washington High School Exit Exam Does More Harm Than Good
https://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article221730800.html

International South Africa Let Teachers Teach, Not Incessantly Test
https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Local/Maritzburg-Fever/teachers-are-not-testers-20181107-2

University Admissions Evangel Makes ACT/SAT Optional
https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/education/2018/11/14/evangel-university-act-scores-sat-optional-admissions-policy/1929277002/

Worth Reading It’s Time to End the Testing Culture in U.S. Public Schools
https://www.the74million.org/article/pondiscio-its-time-to-end-the-testing-culture-in-americas-schools-and-start-playing-the-long-game-to-produce-better-life-outcomes-for-at-risk-kids/
Worth Reading Education “Reformers” Turn Against Testing
https://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/us/2018/11/13/education-reformers-shift-their-rhetoric-turning-on-testing/

Bob Schaeffer, Public Education 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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