Testing Resistance & Reform News: November 4 – 10, 2020

The results of last week’s landmark elections continue to reverberate across the country and around the world. Federal education policy is likely to feel some of the most immediate impacts from Joe Biden’s presidency. Already educators, parents, and activists are mobilizing to ensure selection of a Secretary of Education who supports assessment reform and to pressure the Biden Administration to grant states testing waivers for spring 2021. Stay tuned for updates about a new campaign by FairTest and allies to roll back standardized exam misuse and overuse in the coming year!

NationalBiden’s Election Tees Up Shift in Federal Education Priorities
https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2020/11/03/joe-bidens-election-as-president-tees-up.html

NationalWith DeVos Out, Opportunity for New Policy Directions
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/biden-education-change/2020/11/08/b5b25c7a-21d5-11eb-a688-5298ad5d580a_story.html

National It’s Time for a Career -12 Educator as DOE Secretary
https://deutsch29.wordpress.com/2020/11/07/pres-elect-biden-its-time-for-a-career-k12-teacher-as-us-ed-sec/

CaliforniaState Looks to Cut Testing Time, if Feds Require Exams Next Spring
https://edsource.org/2020/california-to-consider-shorter-smarter-balanced-tests-this-spring/642874

FloridaTesting and Accountability Can’t Assess What Matters During a Pandemic
https://www.gainesville.com/story/opinion/2020/11/04/megan-hendricks-testing-and-accountability-covid-world/6091310002/

IllinoisAssessing Educational Progress without Standardized Test Scores
https://www.myjournalcourier.com/insider/article/Schools-encouraged-by-state-marks-15714170.php

IndianaBetsy DeVos and Other Education “Reformers” Ignore 20 Years of Test-and-Punish Failure
https://www.journalgazette.net/opinion/20201107/education-secretary-has-learned-little

MassachusettsDistrict Says “No” to State Standardized Testing This Academic Year
https://sippican.theweektoday.com/article/no-standardized-tests-during-covid-rochester-school-committee-says/50463

Massachusetts Superintendents Express Concerns About State Plan to Resume Academic Testing
https://www.westernmassnews.com/news/schools-told-to-prepare-for-2021-mcas-testing/article_1d19c59c-2299-11eb-bcbe-33463c0a620e.html

New JerseyMultiple Assessment Pathways Increase High School Graduation Rate
https://www.tapinto.net/towns/flemington-slash-raritan/articles/hunterdon-central-discusses-graduation-requirements-recognizes-merit-scholars

New YorkState Cancels Regents Exams Scheduled for January; No Makeup Required
https://www.lohud.com/story/news/education/2020/11/05/january-regents-exams-cancelled-state-education-department-says/6174013002/

New York Editorial Calls for All State Testing to Be Suspended
https://dailygazette.com/2020/11/06/editorial-call-off-all-standardized-school-exams-for-now/

PennsylvaniaSelective High Schools Will Rely Less on Test Scores, More on Holistic Evaluation
https://philadelphia.chalkbeat.org/2020/11/6/21553016/selective-admissions-deadline-is-today-group-says-applications-are-down

TexasTeachers Seek Pause in State Testing Requirements
https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/tea-schools-may-halt-virtual-learning-for-struggling-students

Texas School Board Unanimously Votes for Testing Waiver
https://www.fox44news.com/news/local-news/temple-isd-board-calls-on-morath-to-waive-staar/

University AdmissionDifficulties in Taking ACT/SAT Persist, Signalling More Problems for Standardized Exams
https://www.educationdive.com/news/difficulties-taking-sat-and-act-persist-signaling-long-term-problems-for-t/588292/

University Admission California Public Colleges and Universities Will Be Test-Blind for Fall 2021 Admission
https://dailybruin.com/2020/11/06/uc-to-use-test-blind-admissions-for-fall-2021-following-court-decision

University Admission College Applications Plunge in Florida, the Only State Whose Public System Still Requires ACT/SAT
https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2020/11/09/applications-floridas-public-universities-are-down-much-50-percent

Worth ReadingThe Connection Between Standardized Testing and Flawed Political Opinion Polls
https://www.forbes.com/sites/petergreene/2020/11/06/election-polling-and-educations-big-standardized-test/?sh=1d293f320210

Bob Schaeffer, interim Executive Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing
office-(239) 395-6773 mobile-(239) 699-0468
web-http://www.fairtest.org

Tags: