Testing Resistance & Reform News: September 22 – 28, 2021

It’s time to examine the examiners!

Last spring, policymakers from President Biden to many governors and local education officials insisted that annual standardized tests must be administered despite pandemic disruptions of education. So did the inside-the-Beltway, test-and-punish echo chamber.

Spring 2021 test scores have recently been reported in many states. Since the results were totally predictable, parents, educators and assessment reform advocates should start asking test promoter whether that exercise served any useful purpose.

NationalBig Questions About Spring 2021 Standardized Test Scores
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/big-questions-about-the-2021-standardized-test-scores/ar-AAOJKQ4

CaliforniaSchool Test Length Will Be Slashed Without Reducing Accuracy
https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/state/standardized-tests-to-be-shorter-this-spring/article_2ed0bb88-19e7-11ec-9a97-87cd848fd1b5.html

FloridaLots of Unanswered Questions About Governor’s Assessment “Reform” Proposal
https://floridaphoenix.com/2021/09/21/upending-fl-statewide-exams-will-likely-be-difficult-proposed-testing-system-has-few-details/

Florida Many Schools Opt-Out of State Ranking System During Pandemic
https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/education/2021/09/21/most-volusia-flagler-schools-opt-out-state-rankings-during-covid/5795531001/

Iowa“No Child Left Behind” Failed American Education
https://www.iowastatedaily.com/opinion/opinion-editorial-isd-editorial-board-no-child-left-behind-and-the-american-education-system/article_0211aa34-1f1f-11ec-b8d2-13c78d23f279.html

MarylandGiving Students Vision Screening and Eyeglasses Significantly Improved Test Results, So What do Standardized Exams Really Measure?
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20210924/Eyeglasses-for-students-linked-to-higher-test-scores-better-academic-performance.aspx

MassachusettsLearning Loss vs Structural Racism: What Is the Cause of 2021 Score Declines?
https://www.boston.com/news/schools/2021/09/21/mcas-scores-2021-pandemic/

MissouriDisparities in Quarantines, Internet Access Produce Predictable Test Results
https://www.emissourian.com/local_news/districts-downplay-state-testing-scores-ahead-of-scores-being-released/article_efd1e78a-1a2d-11ec-bbef-ffcf08b82c78.html

New MexicoState Will Not Release Spring 2021 Test Data Due to Very Low Participation Rate
https://news.yahoo.com/mexico-public-education-department-says-035900234.html

New YorkThe Uselessness of New, Expensive Interim Assessments
https://nycpublicschoolparents.blogspot.com/2021/09/the-uselessness-of-interim-assessments.html

North CarolinaInterim Superintendent Blasts State Testing Regime
https://www.dailyadvance.com/news/local/ingram-blasts-state-testing-regime/article_2717ba5b-5a87-526d-8e9a-aa1313c4d927.html

OhioTop-Performing Black Children Less Likely to Be Identified as “Gifted and Talented” and Fall Behind
https://www.the74million.org/ohio-gifted-black-students-challenging-coursework-college-attendance/

OregonStandardized Testing Fixation Has Not Closed Any Educational Gaps
https://www.registerguard.com/story/opinion/columns/2021/09/26/standardized-tests-closed-gaps-oregon-education-school-boards-jessica-gomez-governor/5832601001/

WisconsinEducators Need New Tools to Assess Students
https://madison.com/ct/opinion/column/opinion-districts-need-to-find-new-ways-to-assess-learning/article_0e116664-79a3-55be-a248-e01395cc6d11.html

University AdmissionMore Than 1,750 Colleges and Universities Are ACT/SAT Optional for Fall 2022 Applicants
https://fairtest.org.org/university/optional

University Admissions Almost Unlocking the “Mystery” Of SAT Scores
http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2021/09/almost-unlocking-mystery-of-sat-scores.html

Worth Reading Is Grade Inflation Really All That Bad? Maybe Not
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/09/21/why-grade-inflation-is-useful/

Bob Schaeffer, Executive Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing
office-(239) 395-6773 mobile-(239) 699-0468
web-https://fairtest.org.org
email-bobschaeffer@fairtest.org

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