Testing Resistance & Reform News: November 2 – 8, 2016

This Election Day, education issues are not center stage for most top-of-the-ticket candidates. But down ballot, teachers, parents and community have put testing policies into play in many state and local races. And, grassroots activists know that, whatever voters decide today, the assessment reform movement will continue to pressure elected officials for fewer standardized exams, an end to high-stakes test misuse, and support for better assessments.

NationalBipartisan Group of U.S. Senators Asks Obama to Rein-in Ed. Dept ESSA Regulatory Overreach
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/education/wp/2016/11/03/senators-from-both-parties-ask-obama-to-rein-in-education-department-proposals/

CaliforniaTesting Company Faces Performance Fines for Second Year in a Row
https://edsource.org/2016/testing-company-faces-fines-in-california-for-second-year/571414

California Parents and Teachers Seek to Have Principal Removed for Score Manipulation
http://www.pasadenaindependent.com/news/local-attorney-and-teachers-aim-to-bring-down-alleged-cheating-principal/

FloridaTesting Fuels Corporate Profits
http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/letters/thursdays-letters-testing-fuels-corporate-profits/2301150

Florida Let Kids Enjoy Art Without State-Mandated Exams
http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/henderson-adults-should-let-kids-enjoy-fine-arts-instruction-without/2301343

GeorgiaState Board Eliminates Some Testing Requirements
http://coosavalleynews.com/2016/11/new-state-board-rule-eliminates-some-test-requirements/

IdahoState’s ESSA Plan Allows Schools to Choose Accountability Standard
https://www.idahoednews.org/news/essa-draft-student-growth-play-role-school-accountability/

IndianaState Ed Super Candidates Disagree on Testing, School Grades
http://www.dailyjournal.net/2016/11/07/state_education_candidates_share_their_strategies/

IowaTesting Is Not Teaching
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/readers/2016/11/03/testing-isnt-teaching/93132798/

MassachusettsTest Cheating Allegation Comes With Tragic Consequences
http://www.wcvb.com/news/5-investigates-mcas-cheating-allegation-comes-with-tragic-consequence/42349136

New JerseyRacial Test Score Gaps May Have Widened Under PARCC
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/16/11/03/wide-achievement-gap-persists-despite-new-parcc-exams/

New Jersey Lawsuit Filed Against New Exit Exam Requirement
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/education/several-groups-file-lawsuit-against-parcc-test-graduation-requirement/article_dcf1e4ec-8d12-5c85-b0e5-37c2f4a5e826.html

New YorkOpt-Out Leaders Get Involved in Electoral Politics
http://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2016/11/opt-out-leaders-home-in-on-marcellino-senate-district-106975

New York Principals Challenge Standardized Testing Policy
http://www.ithaca.com/news/candor/candor-principal-gives-standardized-testing-a-failing-grade/article_749f03da-a11b-11e6-ae8b-03873e0e840d.html

New York Educators React to Every Student Succeeds Act
http://poststar.com/news/local/educators-react-to-new-federal-policy/article_8f880d46-7a68-5579-98c7-e782d9f9c25b.html

OhioSchool Supers to Rally at State House in Protest Against Test Over-Emphasis
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local-education/schools-superintendents-rally-against-state-testing/XI5sHN7w2SsPu7FFyqtv0M/

OklahomaSchool Grades Don’t Reflect Educational Quality
http://www.sequoyahcountytimes.com/news/article_00efca4e-a2a8-11e6-8096-bb597b5298a7.html

TennesseeDistrict Seeks Waiver of Mandate to Use Test Scores for Teacher Evaluation
http://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/education/2016/11/02/knox-school-board-ask-state-test-waiver/93201638/

WisconsinPoverty is Key Factor in Classroom Achievement Gap
http://chippewa.com/dunnconnect/news/state-and-regional/children-left-behind-evidence-grows-of-poverty-s-toll-on/article_d846d251-8afd-5ca5-b7ef-1f64609e79d6.html

InternationalCanada: Nova Scotia Provincial Assessments Suspended Indefinitely After Teacher Labor Action
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/nova-scotia-student-assessments-suspended-until-further-notice-1.3841459

International United Kingdom: New Coalition of Parents, Teachers and Psychologists Opposes “Toxic Testing”
https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-news/new-coalition-parents-and-teachers-calls-toxic-sats-be-suspended

University AdmissionsWestern Oregon University Drops Admissions Test Requirement for Many Applicants
http://www.ktvz.com/news/western-oregon-u-wont-require-sat-or-act-scores/145972495

University Admissions 900+ Colleges and Universities Are Now ACT/SAT Optional
https://fairtest.orgdata.com.org/university/optional

Worth Reading“Beyond Measure” Book Now Available in Paperback
http://www.beyondmeasurefilm.com/beyond-measure-book/

Worth Reading Are “Higher Standards” Leading to Better Outcomes?
http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2016/11/are-high-standards-leading-to-better.html

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