Testing Resistance & Reform News (October 28 – November 3, 2020)

School testing policy is among the issues whose future direction is being shaped as ballots are cast and counted. A growing number of office-seekers advocate for replacing standardized exam misuse and overuse with assessments that support learning and teaching. In other races, the differences among candidates may be more nuanced. But, across the board, election results will strongly influence whether the test-and-punish status quo is allowed to continue. At its core, the testing debate is political, not educational.

NationalFederal Standardized Testing Mandates Among Likely Consequences From Election Results
https://www.chalkbeat.org/2020/10/28/21538687/eight-big-consequences-2020-elections-could-have-for-schools

National COVID-19 Raises Stakes for Elections Across the Country
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2020/10/covid-19_has_put_education_on_.html

National DeVos Tries to Make Baloney Sandwich From NAEP Scores
http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2020/10/devos-new-naep-baloney-sandwich.html

ArkansasSuperintendents Oppose Resuming Student Academic Testing in Spring 2021
https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/local/districts-weigh-in-on-standardized-tests/article_160c5adb-685f-53b3-a4c4-9039f38adc5c.html

FloridaCounty School Superintendent Calls for Suspending Test-Based School Grades
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/education/os-ne-seminole-school-grades-pandemic-20201029-dw5otrwzgbh2bihrc7vkhrpa3q-story.html

MassachusettsLocal Candidates Call for No State Mandated Exams During Pandemic
https://www.wickedlocal.com/news/20201028/4th-norfolk-candidates-support-no-mcas-exams-during-pandemic

MichiganIt’s the Right Time to Stop Overdosing on Standardized Testing
https://nepc.colorado.edu/blog/its-right-time

South CarolinaState Waives Requirement to Include Standardized Test Scores in Student Grades
https://www.postandcourier.com/columbia/news/sc-high-schoolers-wont-have-to-sweat-end-of-course-tests-as-much-this-school/article_9c922ef0-1933-11eb-8062-efde2eff6781.html

TennesseeGovernor and Ed Commission Will Seek to Remove Consequences from Spring 2021 Tests
https://www.timesnews.net/news/education/schwinn-confident-public-school-systems-to-make-right-calls-on-pandemic-learning/article_ecbd7780-1880-11eb-af79-9b971699ab33.html

TexasA to F School Grading System Stigmatizes Low-Income Communities
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/watchdog/2020/10/29/a-through-f-grading-system-for-texas-public-schools-is-one-more-way-to-stigmatize-poor-neighborhoods/

WyomingTest-Based Accountability Suspended for Current School Year
https://www.laramieboomerang.com/news/state-suspends-wy-topp-accountability/article_4872d8ef-e8ab-5190-b524-bf397008cbcc.html

University AdmissionAppeals Court Bars University of California From Considering ACT/SAT Scores
https://www.educationdive.com/news/u-of-california-cant-consider-sat-act-appeals-court-rules/588137/

University AdmissionsMore Business Schools Going GMAT/GRE Optional This Year
https://poetsandquants.com/2020/11/02/more-business-schools-going-test-optional-this-year/

Worth ReadingProposal to Resume Standardized Testing During Pandemic is Ill-Timed, Unrealistic and Inappropriate
https://nepc.colorado.edu/thinktank/pandemic-assessment

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

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