Testing Resistance & Reform News: October 12 – 18, 2016

With stories from 20 states, this week’s news clips demonstrate the growing breadth and depth of the national movement fighting for fewer standardized tests, no high-stakes exams and better assessments. You can have friends and allies sign up for these updates at:https://fairtest.orgdata.com.org/weekly-news-signup

NationalTeachers Want States to Go For Bold Changes Under ESSA
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2016/10/nea_wants_states_to_go_for_bol.html

National FairTest’s “Assessment Matters” Report on Implementing ESSA Innovative Assessment Pilots
https://fairtest.orgdata.com.org/assessment-matters-constructing-model-state-system

AlabamaBoard of Ed Delays Plan to Impose Test-Based School Grades
http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2016/10/alabama_boe_delays_approval_of.html

Alabama What Can Finland Teach Us About Education?
https://news.wbhm.org/feature/2016/can-finland-teach-alabama-education/

ArizonaState Listens to Public Input for ESSA Implementation
http://tucson.com/news/local/education/arizona-forms-game-plan-for-federal-education-law/article_178d6a42-c290-5e20-8634-69c25f7898b1.html

CaliforniaStudents Say School Quality Hinges on Relationships, Not Exam Scores
http://newamericamedia.org/2016/10/education-reform-relies-on-tests-and-acronyms-but-kids-say-its-about-relationships.php

California Duel With Obama Administration Over Testing Continues
https://edsource.org/2016/duel-between-california-and-obama-administration-over-education-continues/570332

ColoradoOpt-Out Aftershock Calls School Ratings Into Question
http://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/co/2016/10/13/opt-out-aftershock-colorado-school-ratings-called-into-question-for-low-participation-on-tests/

Colorado State Won’t Abandon PARCC . . . Just Yet
http://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/co/2016/10/12/colorado-wont-bolt-from-parcc-just-yet-state-board-chairman-says/

ConnecticutOpting Out of Testing Is a Civic Duty
http://jonathanpelto.com/2016/10/13/opting-testing-connecticut-now-civic-duty-drew-michael-mcweeney/

FloridaText Opt-Out Movement Becomes an Electoral Issue
http://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/post/election-2016-standardized-testing-opt-out-movement-spills-florida

GeorgiaBallot Amendment Would Empower Governor to Take Over Low Scoring Schools
http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/section/250/article/119698/

HawaiiTeacher Helps Make ESSA Work
http://neatoday.org/2016/10/12/implementing-essa/

IndianaSuperintendent Proposes Alternative Assessment System
http://eaglecountryonline.com/local-article/ritz-proposes-ontrack-test-to-replace-istep/

KansasHigh Test Scores Do Not Guarantee Good Schools
http://www.hayspost.com/2016/10/12/schrock-test-scores-do-not-guarantee-good-schools/

LouisianaTest-Based School Grades Delayed Again, This Time Allegedly by Flooding
http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2016/10/school_grades_delayed.html

MichiganStudent Testing Changes Possibly Underway
http://wmuk.org/post/changes-possibly-underway-student-testing-michigan

MinnesotaSchools Walk In Protest Targets “Testing Machine”
http://www.progressive.org/news/2016/10/188992/walking-not-out-support-schools

New YorkSchool Principals Reflect on Testing Shortfalls
http://www.ithaca.com/opinion/reflections-on-nys-testing-administrators-perspective/article_2ed3dfc4-8fdc-11e6-9d86-2fc92070a950.html

New York Congressional Race Focuses on Testing, Common Core, Charters
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2016/10/teachout_faso_testing_common_core_new_york_congress.html

New York Third Grade Tests Are Developmentally Inappropriate
https://greatschoolwars.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/cc-ela-passage-eval-2016-final-copy.pdf

OhioStakeholders Seek Fewer Tests, Better School Culture Under ESSA
http://radio.wosu.org/post/fewers-tests-better-culture-ohioans-chime-about-new-school-standards

Ohio Teachers Decry State Tests
http://www.sanduskyregister.com/Education/2016/10/17/Educators-demand-less-state-meddling.html

OregonSchool Report Cards Reveal Test Opt-Out Effects
http://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/4734620-151/state-report-cards-reveal-test-opt-out-effects

PennsylvaniaCivics Test Proposal Gets a Failing Grade
http://lancasteronline.com/opinion/editorials/pennsylvania-civics-test-proposal-gets-a-failing-grade/article_78948f4c-8c07-11e6-bfb6-b7be6ea59c35.html

Rhode IslandHigh School Grad Test Requirement Eliminated
http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20161011/changes-in-ri-graduation-requirements-for-class-of-2021-approved

TennesseeHow State Might Dramatically Overhaul Testing
http://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/tn/2016/10/11/how-tennessee-might-drastically-change-testing-and-other-potential-changes-to-the-states-schools/#.V_4iN5MrJZ0

Tennessee Test Scores Likely to Dip Due to Grading Changes
http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2016/10/13/tennessee-student-test-scores-dip-face-rising-grading-standard/91975920/

VirginiaAre Performance-Based Assessments the Future of Education
http://wvtf.org/post/are-performance-based-assessments-future-education

International/United Kingdom“Enough is Enough,” Stop This Toxic Testing
https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-views/enough-enough-stop-toxic-testing

UniversityAdmissionsColleges Say Grades Are Much More Important Than Test Scores in Evaluating Applicants
https://www.goodcall.com/news/grades-trump-test-scores-college-admissions-report-reveals-08951

Worth ReadingReport on United Opt-Out Summit
https://gadflyonthewallblog.wordpress.com/2016/10/17/fighting-for-public-schools-means-fighting-against-systemic-racism-united-opt-out-education-and-civil-rights-summit/

Worth Reading Teachers Describe Huge Amounts of Classroom Time Spent on Testing and Test Prep
http://www.cep-dc.org/displayDocument.cfm?DocumentID=1461

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