Testing Resistance & Reform News: November 6 – 12, 2019

From Alaska to Florida and many states in-between, the pushback against standardized testing misuse and overuse continues to accelerate. Feel free to use this week’s stories and commentaries as models for your own local assessment reform work.

AlaskaReading Is So Much More Than What Standardized Tests Measure
https://www.adn.com/opinions/letters/2019/11/11/letter-wrong-approach-on-reading/

ColoradoWhat Is School Quality and Who Decides?
https://www.the74million.org/article/holmes-what-is-school-quality-and-who-decides-were-bringing-together-educators-families-and-students-for-this-vital-discussion/

ConnecticutComputerized Tests Worse Than Old Pencil-and-Paper Versions
https://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/20191112_op-ed_welcome_to_your_test_score_bonanza_headquarters/

FloridaOne Test Does Not Predict Student Success
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/guest-commentary/os-op-lake-county-sat-scores-response-lauren-ritchie-20191108-tc3h6nrudnhxhaabtot5chtjwe-story.html

GeorgiaSome Advanced Students Will Take Fewer Tests
https://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article237115604.html

Georgia Atlanta Board Rethinks How to Assess Schools
https://www.ajc.com/news/local/accountability-punishment-atlanta-board-revisits-measuring-schools/7E3d5Wt4k0c23IQ3xNq9dP/#

IndianaPush Standardized Testing Out of the Way So Teachers Can Teach
https://indianatalks.com/2019/11/if-you-want-to-improve-student-test-scores-empower-teachers-and-get-out-of-the-way/

MississippiState Studies Possible Elimination of History Test Requirement
https://www.wdam.com/2019/11/07/state-board-education-more-study-needed-before-elimination-us-history-exam/

New MexicoNot all Sold on Requiring SAT for All High School Students
http://www.scdailypress.com/site/2019/11/05/not-all-sold-on-sat-for-nms-high-schoolers/

New YorkRegents Test Content May Discourage Reading for Pleasure
https://patch.com/new-york/new-york-city/stanford-prof-finds-ny-regent-exam-might-be-discouraging-reading-fun

TennesseeTesting Promotes False Premises About “Failing” Kids
https://www.johnsoncitypress.com/Column/2019/11/10/Don-t-accept-false-premises-about-failing-kids.html?ci=stream&lp=1&p=

VermontStop “Beating a Dead Horse” with More Testing
https://vtdigger.org/2019/11/05/william-j-mathis-beat-the-dead-horse-harder/

WisconsinDistrict Cuts Back Standardized Test Requirements
https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/education/local_schools/madison-schools-drop-winter-reading-and-math-test-for-elementary/article_007c9ec6-4b7f-5d33-9d6d-54fc994282f6.html

WyomingState Should Mandate Fewer Standardized Exams
https://oilcity.news/community/2019/11/11/wyoming-should-mandate-less-state-and-federal-testing-ncsd-says/

University AdmissionsApplicants Are More Than Standardized Test Scores
https://www.dailycal.org/2019/11/08/students-are-more-than-standardized-test-scores/

Worth ReadingWhat U.S. Schools Can Learn From Finland
https://ssir.org/articles/entry/what_us_schools_can_learn_from_finlands_approach_to_education

Worth Reading Robots May Be Grading Your Kids Tests, With Bias
https://www.wbur.org/cognoscenti/2019/11/12/robo-grading-rich-barlow

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

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