Testing Resistance & Reform News: October 18 - 24, 2017
The drumbeat of criticism against high-stakes testing grows ever stronger as more evidence shows that the nation's standardized exam fixation is undermining both educational quality and equity. Nevada is the latest state to retreat from making major school decisions, such as eligibility for a high school diploma, on the basis of test scores.
National Why Education "Reform" Keeps Failing Students
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/education-reform-keeps-failing-students/
Arizona How "A to F" School Grades Vex Policy Makers
https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2017/10/19/why-the-a-f-rating-system-for-schools-vexes-policymakers/
California Tests Don't Measure Intelligence
http://highschool.latimes.com/el-camino-real-charter/opinion-theres-nothing-intelligent-about-test-taking/
California Teacher Opted All Her Students Out of Smarter Balanced Tests
https://dianeravitch.net/2017/10/21/teacher-i-opted-out-all-my-english-classes-from-taking-sbac/
Florida The Perils of Teaching in a High-Stakes Testing Environment
https://unitedforflchildren.com/2017/10/18/teaching-in-a-high-stakes-accountability-system/
Illinois New Testing Benchmarks Provoke Confusion
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-illinois-sat-test-results-20171017-story.html
Louisiana Way Too Many Standardized Tests
http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/letters/article_bfcb65d4-b50f-11e7-8759-e7294f764661.html
Massachusetts Testing Is Not the Key to Creating Great Schools
http://www.capecodtimes.com/opinion/20171018/mcas-isnt-key-to-states-great-schools
Massachusetts No Surprise: New Tests Bring Lower Scores
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/10/18/new-tests-bring-worse-scores-for-mass-students/YYiJaH6OCmVcOsolkYRN7M/story.html
Nevada Former Students Who Did Not Pass Exit Exam Can Get Retroactive Diplomas
https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/education/nevada-students-denied-diplomas-over-failed-exams-get-shot-at-redemption/
New Mexico Make the Connection Between Poverty and Academic Performance
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/my_view/think-further-make-the-poverty-connection/article_1cd5bb21-888a-56dd-944a-be3872ca5b6c.html
New York Racial Gap in Advanced Placement Test-Taking Continues
https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20171011/washington-heights/ap-exams-advanced-placement-new-york-city-schools
Ohio Candidate Says Test-Based State Report Cards Don't Measure What Makes Schools Effective
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/opinion/contributors/2017/10/23/report-cards-do-not-reflect-what-makes-schools-effective/767523001/
South Carolina Online Testing May Have Depressed Students' Scores
http://www.scnow.com/news/local/article_3ff87028-b6a8-11e7-b21e-cbb519068d49.html
Tennessee Teachers Call for Invalidation of Miscored Test Results
https://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/tn/2017/10/16/memphis-teachers-union-calls-on-tennessee-to-invalidate-tnready-due-to-scoring-errors/
Tennessee Standardized Test Errors Testing the State
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/opinion/freepress/story/2017/oct/18/standardized-tests-testing-state/454947/tTe
Texas Principal Reprimanded for Test Cheating Promoted by District
http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/education/episd/2017/10/19/reprimanded-el-paso-high-principal-head-curriculum-and-instruction-episd/777700001/
Virginia Governor Candidate Breaks with DeVos and Obama on Testing
https://newrepublic.com/article/145368/ralph-northam-taking-betsy-devosby-breaking-barack-obama
University How Test Scores Can Block Black Students from Admission
http://www.startribune.com/how-test-scores-can-block-black-students-from-the-university-of-minnesota/451717393/
University Time for a Plan to Aid Underserved Students
http://diverseeducation.com/article/102875/
University Colleges Dumping Test Scores in Favor of GPA to Define Academic Readiness
https://campustechnology.com/articles/2017/10/19/california-colleges-dumping-test-scores-adopting-gpa-to-define-college-readiness.aspx
Worth Reading When Grit Is Not Enough -- New Book by FairTest Board Member Linda Nathan
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/10/18/principal-money-matters-race-matters-grit-talk-makes-me-angry/
Worth Reading A Question for Betsy DeVos
http://truth-out.org/buzzflash/commentary/a-question-for-betsy-devos
Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing
office- (239) 395-6773 fax- (239) 395-6779
mobile- (239) 699-0468
web- http://www.fairtest.org
1,350+ Accredited, 4-Year Colleges & Universities with ACT/SAT-Optional Testing Policies for Fall, 2022 Admissions