Testing Resistance & Reform News: September 24 – October 1, 2019

With each passing week, it becomes ever clearer that public school assessment policies are framed more by political, ideological, and business concerns than educational evidence. Keeping the heat on politicians, exposing their motivations and documenting the financial interests of the testing industry helps build the clout necessary to win genuine reforms.

Multiple States What Happens When “Formative” and “Summative” Assessment Markets Combine
https://www.edsurge.com/news/2019-09-26-when-summative-and-formative-assessment-markets-combine-will-expectations-collide

Florida State Testing Contractor Sold to Venture Capital Firm
https://www.tampabay.com/news/gradebook/2019/09/25/florida-testing-firm-air-sells-out/
Florida Governor Says “Best and Brightest” Test Score Bonuses for Teachers Are Too Confusing
https://www.tampabay.com/news/gradebook/2019/09/24/floridas-best-and-brightest-teacher-bonus-too-confusing-to-live-gov-desantis-says/

Illinois Ending Basic Skill Testing for Entry-Level Teaching Will Not Hurt Educational Quality
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/oak-brook/ct-dob-basic-skills-test-tl-0926-20190930-j2lntyzotvhirk5ib452iwbsvm-story.html

Kentucky Public Hearings Scheduled on Graduation Requirements
https://www.kentuckynewera.com/ep/news/article_971d11c6-cac3-5b92-a596-48c492fd3e86.html

Massachusetts The Politics of State Testing
https://commonwealthmagazine.org/opinion/the-politics-of-mcas-2-0/
Massachusetts Boston Superintendent Places Moratorium on District-Mandated Standardized Exams
https://schoolyardnews.com/memo-to-bps-school-leaders-no-more-district-mandated-standardized-tests-at-least-not-this-year-159b47281d43

Minnesota Governor Shifts Focus From Test Scores to Ending Dropouts, Lifting Graduation Rates
http://www.startribune.com/gov-tim-walz-to-focus-on-reducing-school-dropouts-critics-see-a-diversion-from-falling-test-scores/561649832/
Minnesota School Board Member Wants to Ditch High-Stakes Standardized Testing
http://www.winonapost.com/Article/ArticleID/66169/School-Board-member-wants-to-ditch-high-stakes-testing

New Jersey Fight Continues Over Planned Testing Changes
https://www.njspotlight.com/2019/10/administration-pushes-student-testing-plan-ahead-despite-opposition/

New York Hamilton Cast Member Testifies Against High-Stakes Exams
https://brooklynreporter.com/2019/09/hamiltons-anthony-ramos-bensonhurst-grad-testifies-against-high-stakes-testing/

Ohio Test Scores Largely Measure Outside-of-School Factors
https://news.osu.edu/kids-in-poor-urban-schools-learn-just-as-much-as-others/

Oregon Districts Question Meaning of State Test Scores
https://www.eastoregonian.com/news/local/districts-examine-state-assessments/article_26be7124-df1f-11e9-9821-07418a693693.html

South Dakota Economic Factors Have Huge Impact on School Test Scores
https://www.mitchellrepublic.com/news/education/4683025-Economic-factors-leave-large-impact-on-SD-school-test-scores

Texas End Unnecessary Testing Mandates
https://www.heraldbanner.com/from-the-bleachers-stop-mandated-testing-of-public-school-students/article_081c414e-e2dd-11e9-8589-2bd9988b5dfa.html

University Admissions SAT Score Gaps Between Demographic Groups Grows Larger
https://www.fairtest.org/2019-sat-scores-gaps-between-demographic-groups-gr
University Admissions Test-Optional “Merit” Scholarships: The Next Frontier
https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/views/2019/09/30/author-considers-next-roles-test-optional-colleges-opinion

Worth Reading The Absurdity of Standardized Testing
https://gadflyonthewallblog.com/2019/09/24/the-absurdity-of-standardized-testing-caught-between-prediction-and-assessment/
Worth Reading Time to End Timed Tests
https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2019/10/02/its-time-to-end-timed-tests.html

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