U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has laid down a direct challenge to assessment reformers around the nation. She says states should plan to administer standardized tests to all students next spring, despite the ongoing pandemic. Grassroots organizers need to fight back by getting local and state policy makers to press for extending federal waivers through at least June 2021. (Of course, Betsy DeVos may no longer be the federal decision-maker by mid-winter!)
NationalDeVos Threatens: Don’t Count on Testing Waivers Extension
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2020/09/betsy-devos-annual-tests-not-expect-waivers.html
GeorgiaState Superintendent of Education Says Any Annual Tests Mandated by Feds Will Be Neither Valid Nor Reliable
https://www.wabe.org/georgia-school-chief-dont-worry-if-feds-force-testing/
MichiganGovernor, Other State Leaders Push Back Against DeVos School Testing Plan
https://www.bridgemi.com/talent-education/betsy-devos-michigan-can-expect-standardized-tests-despite-covid-19
New YorkEliminating Selective High School Admissions Test Is Key to Desegregating Education
https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-a-blueprint-to-desegregating-nyc-20200903-q5nsxa7ambgwnk4m3glrfxw7ie-story.html
North CarolinaStudents May Be Allowed to Take End-of-Grade Tests at Home
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article245424695.html
OhioBipartisan Bill Seeks Federal Test Waiver, School Report Card Suspension, Teacher Assessment Freeze
https://www.cleveland.com/news/2020/09/ohio-could-seek-federal-waiver-to-cancel-2020-21-state-testing-freeze-report-cards-teacher-assessment.html
South DakotaSchool Funding Won’t Be Affected By Lack of Standardized Tests
https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/education/2020/09/03/school-funding-wont-affected-lack-standardized-tests/3454963001/
TennesseeCounty School Board Calls on State to Suspend Standardized Testing for 2020-2021 School Year
https://www.crossville-chronicle.com/news/local_news/boe-asks-state-to-waive-testing/article_5617347e-eee6-11ea-bfcf-1fe1f555f2ba.html
University AdmissionCourt Bars University of California From Considering ACT/SAT Scores in Admissions Decisions
https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2020/09/02/injunction-bars-u-california-using-sat-or-act-scores-admissions
University Admissions Could Less Emphasis on Admissions Tests Bring More Diversity to the Medical Profession
https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/practices/could-less-emphasis-mcat-bring-more-diversity-to-medicine
Worth ReadingIt’s Time to Talk About the Opportunity Gap Not an “Achievement Gap”
https://haveyouheardblog.com/mind-the-gap-why-its-time-to-stop-talking-about-the-achievement-gap/
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