Early fall is a very busy season for assessment reformers across the nation, as this week’s stories from a third of the states plus higher education and overseas clearly show. Policy makers are paying particular attention to their constituents’ concerns as Election Day draws near.
National The Flaws in NAEP “Achievement Levels”
https://dianeravitch.net/2018/09/20/the-letter-i-wrote-about-changing-naep-achievement-levels-you-write-one-too/
California Don’t Let the SAT Become the Yardstick to Measure Schools
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-sat-20180921-story.html#
Colorado State Reconsiders Its Formula for Grading Schools
https://the-journal.com/articles/110711
Florida Governor’s Campaign Ad Distorts State’s Educational Performance
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/school-zone/os-rick-scott-education-ad-20180921-story.html
Florida “More Teachers, Less Tech” Say Parents Wary of Online Test-Prep
http://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20180921/more-teachers-less-tech-say-parents-wary-of-of-i-ready
Georgia Two Dozen Districts Seek Alternatives to State Standardized Tests
https://www.ajc.com/news/state–regional-education/testing-school-districts-petition-for-alternatives-georgia-milestones/W6JYWjdz0v557SPBtjAJxJ/
Illinois Rest in Power, George Schmidt, Teacher Union and Assessment Reform Activist
https://www.ctunet.com/blog/george-schmidt-obituary
Kentucky Graduation Test Requirement Is No Solution to Poor School Performance
https://www.kentucky.com/opinion/editorials/article218788495.html
Massachusetts If Class Sizes Were Smaller, Testing Would Be Moot
https://lesstestingmorelearning.tumblr.com/post/178190901354/story-22-teacher-if-class-sizes-were-small
Michigan New Reading Test Law Will Flunk Many Low-Income Third Graders
https://www.bridgemi.com/talent-education/muskegon-kids-struggle-read-their-superintendent-had-same-problem
Michigan Former Florida Governor Pushes A-to-F Grading System for Michigan
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2018/09/24/jeb-bush-f-grades-michigan-schools/1414426002/
Mississippi State Board Balks at Issuing School Grades After Public Push Back
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/mississippi/articles/2018-09-20/mississippi-education-board-delays-letter-grade-rankings
New Jersey Governor Still Wants to Phase Out PARCC Test Despite Push Back
http://www.burlingtoncountytimes.com/news/20180918/murphy-still-wants-to-phase-out-parcc-despite-pushback
New York Changes to ESSA Plan Will Eliminate Opt-Out Sanctions
https://www.rochesterfirst.com/news/local-news/new-york-eyeing-changes-to-every-student-succeeds-act/1458606524
New York City May Have to Pay Out $1.7 Billion for Biased Teacher Exam
https://nypost.com/2018/09/19/city-may-have-to-pay-out-1-7b-over-biased-teaching-exam/
Ohio Proposed Graduation Requirements Menu Includes Alternatives to Test Scores
https://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2018/09/new_state_high_school_graduati.html
Ohio State’s School Report Cards Are Waste of Time, Paper, Money
https://www.athensnews.com/news/local/local-school-chiefs-weigh-in-on-state-report-cards/article_89161908-bf5e-11e8-8b2b-ffd2392c3d9f.html
Oregon Early Childhood Testing Disrupts Mr. Rogers Neighborhood
https://www.eugeneweekly.com/2018/09/13/lost-in-mr-rogers-neighborhood/
Oregon Districts Opt-Out Rate Increases
https://www.bendbulletin.com/home/6534443-151/opt-out-rate-increases-for-bend-la-pine-schools-in
Pennsylvania A Smarter Approach to Assessment
https://www.delcotimes.com/opinion/sen-mcgarrigle-s-bill-a-smarter-approach-to-testing/article_53098958-be0f-11e8-b8cb-170543f3bc74.html
Texas Animation: I Prefer to Opt Out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkfZBm5rfaA&feature=youtu.be
Virginia School Loses Accreditation After Test Cheating Scandal
https://wtvr.com/2018/09/20/carver-board-of-education-vote/
University Admissions Colby College Goes Completely Test-Optional
http://www.colby.edu/news/2018/09/24/colby-eliminates-standardized-testing-requirement/
University Admissions High School Counselors Think Colleges Should Drop ACT/SAT Requirements
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/high_school_and_beyond/2018/09/high_school_counselors_colleges_should_drop_SAT_ACT_requirements.html
University Admissions Multiple Measures Better Than Placement Tests at Predicting Course Success
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/09/20/new-report-encourages-use-multiple-measurements-student-placement
International United Kingdom Testing is at Heart of Education Problems
https://www.tes.com/news/testing-heart-educations-problems
Worth Reading The Big Standardized Test Is a Big Standardized Flop
https://www.forbes.com/sites/petergreene/2018/09/20/is-the-big-standardized-test-a-big-standardized-flop/#13c1a7284937