“Momentum” is the buzzword of the week for the assessment reform movement. In state after state, pressure from parents, students, educators, researchers, and grassroots activists is forcing policy makers to roll-back standardized testing policies that undermine education quality and equity. There’s still a long way to go, but progress is definitely taking place!
Colorado Educators Debate Overhaul of School Accountability Rating System
https://www.coloradoindependent.com/2019/10/09/colorado-school-performance-ratings/
Florida State Standards Changing for Fifth Time in 24 Years
https://www.tampabay.com/news/gradebook/2019/10/12/fifth-time-in-24-years-why-florida-is-changing-school-standards-again/
Georgia Focus on Passing Grade-Level Tests Hurts Learning
https://www.ajc.com/blog/get-schooled/expect-kids-grade-level-math-lot-them-aren/lBxMi3XF66zwGoERtdj8cL/
Georgia Teachers Protest Standardized Exam Overkill
https://www.ajc.com/news/state–regional-education/teachers-complain-about-georgia-excessive-testing/x7vQFaoViDAFROe5qZUXeP/
Kansas Study Shows State Over-reliance on Test Scores Supplants Educator Judgement
https://www.kcur.org/post/study-suggests-kansas-schools-rely-data-expense-teacher-knowhow
Kansas Controversy Over Replacing State Test with ACT
https://www.mvnews.org/proposal-to-drastically-change-state-assessments-is-in-the-making/
Kentucky Focus on Poverty-Linked Test Score Competition Hurts Education
https://www.rcnky.com/articles/2019/10/13/op-ed-competition-obsession-prevents-asking-correct-questions
Massachusetts Don’t Use Test Scores To Compare Communities
https://ipswich.wickedlocal.com/opinion/20191011/editorial-ipswich-mcas-for-self-examination-not-comparisons
Nebraska State Test Score Ratings Align Closely with Community Poverty
https://www.ksnblocal4.com/content/news/Outside-factors-can-impact-academic-ratings-562764131.html
New Jersey A World of Research Supports Dropping Tenth Grade Test
https://www.nj.com/opinion/2019/10/a-world-of-research-supports-dropping-10th-grade-tests-nj-teachers-union.html
New Jersey A Child Is More Than a Test Score
https://www.nj.com/opinion/2019/10/a-child-is-more-than-a-test-score-njea-president-says.html
New York Regents Back Off From Test-Score Based Teacher Evaluations
https://www.newsday.com/long-island/education/board-of-regents-albany-1.37302138
New York Let’s Get Rid of All the Regents Exams
http://nyceducator.com/2019/10/should-we-maintain-regents-exams.html
Ohio Education Policy Makers Focus on Trivia, Ignore What Really Matters
https://www.tdn-net.com/opinion/columns/71911/just-another-ode-boondoggle
Rhode Island Students Accused of Purchasing Advanced Placement Test Exam Answers
https://eastgreenwichnews.com/high-school-ap-students-accused-of-cheating/
South Dakota Superintendent Urges Governor to Look Beyond Test Scores
https://www.aberdeennews.com/news/opinion/columnists/bruns-beyond-the-test-scores-that-left-noem-unimpressed/article_a0fa308a-008e-5c36-8e6f-c1ac04b159f7.html
Washington Input Solicited on Graduation Requirements Now That Exit Exam is History
https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/weigh-in-on-washingtons-new-proposed-high-school-graduation-requirements/281-d4c5514f-b6f3-4e34-8095-c003fd563c00
International Australia How NAPLAN, the National Testing Program, Is Failing Our Students
https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/how-naplan-failing-our-students
University Admissions Record Number of Schools Drop ACT and SAT Amid Questions of Fairness
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/education/record-number-of-colleges-stop-requiring-the-sat-and-act-amid-questions-of-fairness
Worth Reading Artificial Intelligence Shows Standardized Tests Don’t Measure Knowledge or Understanding
https://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2019/10/ai-pokes-another-hole-in-standardized.html
Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing
office- (239) 395-6773 mobile- (239) 699-0468
web- http://www.fairtest.org