Topping this week’s news: more jurisdictions roll back graduation exams, another state’s computer testing system collapses, and activists across the country press for more assessment reforms at the same time test-and-punish advocates push for even more counter-productive tests.
National More States Abolish or Suspend Graduation Tests
www.fairtest.org/graduation-test-update-states-recently-eliminated
Alaska Many Inaccuracies on State-Mandated School Readiness Test
http://juneauempire.com/neighbors/2016-09-25/giving-kids-good-start
California Court Says Districts Do Not Have to Use Student Test Scores to Evaluate Teaches
https://edsource.org/2016/california-superior-court-rejects-efforts-to-t…
California Governor Vetoes Bill to Put More Emphasis on Test Scores in School Ratings
https://edsource.org/2016/brown-vetoes-bill-intended-to-place-more-empha…
Delaware Public Should Attend ESSA Meetings to Influence Implementation of New Law
https://exceptionaldelaware.wordpress.com/2016/09/22/essa-parents-educat…
Florida State Board of Ed Calls for End to Teacher Bonuses Based on ACT/SAT Scores
http://www.educationdive.com/news/florida-may-end-bonuses-for-teachers-w…
Florida School Test Scores Do Not Identify “Good” or “Bad” Teachers
http://www.gainesville.com/opinion/20160925/letter-no-shell-game
Hawaii Native Language Immersion Students Can Opt-Out of English Tests
http://hawaiitribune-herald.com/news/local-news/hawaiian-immersion-stude…
Iowa State Testing System Crash Leads to Audit
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/education/2016/09/24/iowa-te…
Louisiana History Shows State Accountability System Changed to Reflect Political Goals
http://louisianaeducator.blogspot.com/2016/09/louisiana-accountability-s…
Massachusetts Mayor Says “Flawed System” Led to Downgrading of Boston Latin School for Opt Outs
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_politics/2016/09/mayor_boston_lat…
Michigan Ideologues Advance Third-Grade, Test-Based Retention Bill
http://www.fixthemitten.com/blog/update-on-third-grade-retention-bill
Michigan “Social Promotion” Is False Argument in Defense of Test Misuse
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teacher_in_a_strange_land/2016/09/there…
New Jersey Why Do Public Officials Still Love the PARCC Test
https://danielskatz.net/2016/09/20/new-jersey-3s-parcc/
New Jersey Parents Are Only Hope for Public Education
https://www.tapinto.net/towns/cranford/categories/letters-to-the-editor/…
New Mexico Update on Legal Challenge to Test-Based Teacher Evaluation Scheme
http://vamboozled.com/new-mexico-lawsuit-update/
New York Test for Admission to Elite Public High Schools to Be Reworked
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/education/test-admission-city-elite-…
Ohio Public Testimony Blasts Testing Overkill at ESSA Implementation Hearing
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/09/testing_is_the_big_vill…
Ohio Report Finds Strong Link Between Poverty and Lower Test Scores
http://wksu.org/post/ohio-report-finds-strong-link-between-poverty-and-l…
Pennsylvania Keystone Exams Need an Overhaul
http://www.witf.org/news/2016/09/state-lawmaker-says-keystone-exams-need…
Texas School District Ready to Join Parents’ Challenge to STAAR Test
https://www.texasobserver.org/marlin-isd-staar-lawsuit/
Texas State Tests Fail to Meet Needs of Many Children
http://amarillo.com/opinion/letters-editor/2016-09-25/letter-staar-tests…
University Admissions Record Number of Colleges Now Will Ignore ACT/SAT Scores in Admissions
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/09/20/record-nu…
University Admissions Students Fed Up with Tests Are Leading Schools to Ditch the SAT and ACT
http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/09/22/students-fed-testing-driving-…
FairTest Database of 870+ Test-Optional and Test-Flexible Colleges and Universities
https://fairtest.orgdata.com.org/university/optional
Worth Reading “Brain-Hostile” Education: How Schools Are Failing Adolescents
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/09/26/brain-hos…