Testing Resistance & Reform News: September 16 – 22, 2020

Pressure is mounting on states and municipalities to push back against U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and her test-and-punish allies who are demanding that schools administer high-stakes standardized exams during a pandemic. In contrast, about 70% of all four-year colleges and universities, including nearly all of the most selective institutions, have waived ACT/SAT testing requirements at least for fall 2021 applicants (https://fairtest.org.org/university/optional).

National The Forces Behind Betsy DeVos’ Insistence That Annual Tests Be Administered This Year
https://deutsch29.wordpress.com/2020/09/17/devos-to-state-ed-chiefs-dont-even-think-about-testing-waivers-this-year/

National Why Standardized Exams Should Be Scrapped This Year
http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2020/09/scrap-big-standardized-test-this-year.html

Georgia New Law Eliminates Five High-Stakes Tests
https://deutsch29.wordpress.com/2020/09/17/devos-to-state-ed-chiefs-dont-even-think-about-testing-waivers-this-year/

Illinois State Wants to Delay Decision on Spring Testing
https://chicago.chalkbeat.org/2020/9/18/21445897/illinois-wants-to-delay-decision-on-spring-standardized-testing-2021-keep-fall-kids-assessment
Illinois Students Still Required to Take SAT for High School Graduation in Midst of Pandemic
https://chicago.chalkbeat.org/2020/9/17/21443743/many-illinois-schools-are-closed-but-the-sat-goes-on-why-thats-a-problem-for-some

Minnesota Repeal the Grade Three Reading Test Promotion Law
https://nancyebailey.com/2020/09/21/3rd-grade-reading-laws-are-harmful/

New York Congressman Calls on Betsy DeVos to Grant States Testing Flexibility
https://mylittlefalls.com/brindisi-calls-on-betsy-devos-to-give-schools-a-break-on-standardized-testing/

Ohio Legislators Press to Advance Bill Extending Testing Moratorium
https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/education/2020/09/07/lawmakers-push-to-lift-testing-requirements-as-school-resumes-amid-pandemic/113679796/

Tennessee Local Board of Education Calls for Moratorium on Standardized Exams
https://heraldcourier.com/news/local/bristol-tenn-board-of-education-calls-for-moratorium-on-standardized-testing-in-tennessee/article_edc128b2-fc5f-11ea-b1b1-8b5cb33bd083.html

Texas Resumption of Standardized Testing Adds to Student Trauma
https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2020-09-18/24-texas-teachers-talk-of-trauma-at-tribfest/

International Canada School District Opts Out of Provincial Standardized Exams
https://www.gananoquereporter.com/news/local-news/ngps-opts-out-of-provincial-achievement-tests/wcm/4a1e5def-c599-4b99-ba84-0284db8988cc

University Admissions Test-Optional Movement Makes Inroads at Top-Tier Business Schools
https://poetsandquants.com/2020/09/18/mit-sloans-mba-program-goes-test-optional-this-year/?pq-category=admissions
University Admission Review of Two Important New Books
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/15/books/review/selingo-korn-levitz-college-admissions.html

Worth Reading Democrats’ Positions Evolve on School Testing and Privatization
https://nepc.colorado.edu/blog/biden

Worth Watching How Districts Can Support Meaningful Learning Through Performance Assessments
https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/event/webinar-how-districts-can-support-meaningful-learning-through-performance-assessments

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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