Testing Resistance & Reform News: September 23 – 29, 2020

Interesting to note that so much of the growing pressure to suspend spring 2021 school tests (or minimize the impact of their results) is coming from regions where assessment reform campaigns have not been particularly strong in the past. Leadership from states such as Georgia, Maine, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wyoming will add to the movement’s clout.

Georgia State Could Mostly Erase Impact of Test Scores on Schools During Pandemic
https://www.ajc.com/education/standardized-tests-scores-could-be-mostly-erased-from-ga-high-schools-during-pandemic/KFVGAXTWHVF2FFB62VJLLYNGZI/

Illinois Chicago Schools Reopen for One Day to Administer Test Required for Graduation
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/illinois-high-schools-closed-by-covid-19-reopened-wednesday-for-the-sat-test-critics-say-seniors-dont-need-the-additional-stress-and-the-exam-should-be-waived/ar-BB19lWvB

Maine After Parents Pushback, a Change in Standardized Testing Policy
https://www.pdxmonthly.com/news-and-city-life/2020/09/after-pushback-a-retreat-from-standardized-testing-in-schools

New York Model Test Opt-Out Notification Form Letter
https://lioptout.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Refusal-letter-2020-21.pdf

Ohio State Education Association Wants School Report Card Overhaul
https://www.galioninquirer.com/news/57843/ohio-education-association-wants-school-grading-system-change
Ohio Bipartisan Bill Wants to Waive Standardized Testing for Another Year
https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/bill-aims-to-cancel-state-k-12-testing-again-this-year/QJX4PLTVNRDUZDQ4R6BB2ASRBA/

South Carolina Six Members of Congress Support Extension of State Testing Waiver
https://www.postandcourier.com/news/effort-to-waive-sc-standardized-testing-next-year-gains-support-from-6-u-s-congressmen/article_749574f6-fcf6-11ea-9241-a360cd58296b.html

Tennessee Local Board Seeks Suspension of Spring 2021 Exams
https://www.elkvalleytimes.com/news/lcs-board-requests-that-state-suspend-testing-requirements/article_7f3f3770-fd14-11ea-b7f4-b39cc2ea1155.html

Wyoming State Ed Board Considers Suspending Test-Based “Accountability” for Another Year
https://www.wyomingnews.com/coronavirus/state-board-of-education-considers-suspending-testing-performance-accountability-this-year/article_c6edbf92-e290-59e4-b5b6-f40708959fee.html

University Admissions Graduate Programs Nationwide Opt to Waive GRE Requirements
https://www.thecollegefix.com/universities-nationwide-opt-to-waive-the-gre-requirement/

Worth Reading GreatSchools Revises Rating System, but Still Too Dependent on Test Results
https://www.chalkbeat.org/2020/9/24/21453357/greatschools-overhauls-ratings-reduce-link-race-poverty

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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