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.

NationalWhy Education “Reform” Keeps Failing Students
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/education-reform-keeps-failing-students/

ArizonaHow “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/

CaliforniaTests 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/

FloridaThe Perils of Teaching in a High-Stakes Testing Environment
https://unitedforflchildren.com/2017/10/18/teaching-in-a-high-stakes-accountability-system/

IllinoisNew Testing Benchmarks Provoke Confusion
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-illinois-sat-test-results-20171017-story.html

LouisianaWay Too Many Standardized Tests
http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/letters/article_bfcb65d4-b50f-11e7-8759-e7294f764661.html

MassachusettsTesting 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

NevadaFormer 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 MexicoMake 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 YorkRacial Gap in Advanced Placement Test-Taking Continues
https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20171011/washington-heights/ap-exams-advanced-placement-new-york-city-schools

OhioCandidate 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 CarolinaOnline Testing May Have Depressed Students’ Scores
http://www.scnow.com/news/local/article_3ff87028-b6a8-11e7-b21e-cbb519068d49.html

TennesseeTeachers 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

TexasPrincipal 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/

VirginiaGovernor Candidate Breaks with DeVos and Obama on Testing
https://newrepublic.com/article/145368/ralph-northam-taking-betsy-devosby-breaking-barack-obama

UniversityHow 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 ReadingWhen 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

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