Assessment reform activists are taking advantage of opportunities under the new federal education law to push back against testing overkill with a range of proposals from auditing local standardized exam requirements to overhauling statewide school evaluation policies. To ensure that we have the capacity to support winning grassroots campaigns, please include FairTest in your year-end giving plans — contribute today athttps://donatenow.networkforgood.org/fairtestor mail your check toP.O. Box 300204, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130— your gift is tax-deductible. Thank you!
NationalNew Poll Finds Strong Majority of Voters Oppose Closing Schools Based on Test Scores
http://military-technologies.net/2016/11/30/new-national-education-poll-voters-overwhelmingly-oppose-closing-schools-based-on-high-stakes-standardized-testing/
AlaskaState Picks Old Company for New Tests
http://juneauempire.com/state/2016-12-02/state-picks-old-company-new-tests
ArizonaEducators Optimistic After Seeing Final Federal ESSA Accountability Rules
http://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2016/11/30/educators-optimistic-after-seeing-final-federal-rules-on-school-success/
CaliforniaState Seeks End to Double-Testing in Science
https://edsource.org/2016/california-appeals-to-federal-officials-to-administer-one-statewide-science-test-not-two/573545
ConnecticutNew Haven Schools Promoting Performance Assessment
http://wnpr.org/post/new-haven-among-school-districts-promoting-performance-based-tests
District of ColumbiaHow DC Could Become a National Model for School Turnarounds Under ESSA
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gary-m-ratner/how-dc-could-become-natio_b_12513950.html
FloridaKey State Senators Back Testing Reduction
http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/key-senators-to-push-for-less-testing-more-support-for-public-schools-in/2304829
Florida District Continues to Prune Testing Requirements
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/testing-relief-for-high-schoolers-in-hillsborough/2305154
GeorgiaHigh-Stakes Testing Is Ruining Public Education
http://onlineathens.com/opinion/2016-12-03/huckaby-high-stakes-testing-ruining-public-education#
Georgia Real “Cheating” Scandal Is Intense Focus on Test Scores
http://getschooled.blog.myajc.com/2016/11/30/opinion-we-cheat-more-than-aps-students-when-we-rely-on-tests-to-define-achievement/
IndianaOnce Again, New Test Development Will Be Rushed
http://wboi.org/post/once-again-indiana-plans-launch-new-assessment-year
MassachusettsLooking Beyond Test Scores to Evaluate Schools
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/12/05/massachusetts-look-beyond-test-scores-judging-schools/KpgxHsgwpzMTgVXtFKGLdP/story.html
MichiganState Working on New School Accountability System
http://www.lenconnect.com/news/20161130/michigan-working-on-new-school-accountability-system
New JerseySchool Officials Question New Grad Exam Requirements
http://www.newarkadvocate.com/story/news/local/pataskala/2016/11/30/school-officials-question-new-graduation-requirements/94032662/
New MexicoTime to Question Over-Reliance on Testing
http://www.rrobserver.com/opinion/columns/article_ed361068-b8ea-11e6-b143-bba96505d1e7.html
New YorkParents and Educators Deserve Answers to Testing Concerns
http://wamc.org/post/karen-magee-parents-educators-deserve-answers-testing
New York “Confronting Oppressive Assessments” New Book Battles Standardized Testing
http://www.niagara-gazette.com/news/local_news/educators-new-book-battles-standardized-testing/article_ca0cbfcc-1652-5a97-99f2-c6ba01ff8a05.html
PennsylvaniaStudent Success Should Be Measured in Many Ways
http://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/opinion/editorials/2016/12/04/editorial-students-success-measured-many-ways/94813130/
TennesseeNashville Schools Seek Waiver From Using Test Scores for Student and Teacher Evaluations
http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2016/11/29/nashville-schools-seek-one-year-waiver-using-tests-evaluations/93797532/
Tennessee Local Board of Ed Passes Resolution Opposing School Grading Scheme
http://www.greenevillesun.com/news/local_news/city-boe-opposeses-letter-grades-for-schools/article_30a4e98f-a691-5caf-804f-667e82796392.html
Texas“Coding Error” by Testing Vendor Led to Miscalculated School Grades
http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/West-Orange-Stark-High-School-wins-TEA-appeal-10641962.php
Texas Educators Wary of “A to F” School Grades
http://www.athensreview.com/news/school-officials-wary-of-a-f-rating-system/article_ab9eaee8-b8e1-11e6-89bb-9f178e88ae93.html
WisconsinToo Much Testing? Teachers Press for Audit
http://journaltimes.com/news/local/too-much-testing/article_d8fd18fc-6651-5135-b1a6-00060f9329bf.html
InternationalTIMMS Lessons for the U.S.
http://zhaolearning.com/2016/11/30/stop-copying-others-timss-lessons-for-america/
Worth ReadingPolling Infographic Shows Strong Opposition to Test-Driven School Closures
http://www.publicschooloptions.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/National-Survey-PSO-OL-8.pdf
Worth WatchingBursting the Bubbles: Is There a Link Between Standardized Tests and Improved Learning — Sign Up Today
http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6041/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_page_KEY=7286