Testing Resistance & Reform News: September 26 – October 2, 2018

Controversies continue to swirl around policies that promote standardized testing misuse and overuse, and some policy-makers are taking action. There’s real progress to report in many states — check out this week’s clips for details of assessment reform victories!

California Governor Vetoes Bill Allowing Districts to Use ACT/SAT as Mandatory Grade 11 Test
https://edsource.org/2018/gov-brown-vetoes-bill-to-let-districts-give-sat-or-act-as-11th-grade-test/603058
California To Raise School Achievement, Invest More on Early Childhood
https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2018/09/27/report-close-californias-achievement-gap-spend-more-preschool/1447751002/

Florida Governor’s Misleading Campaign Ads Show Politicization of Test Results
https://www.floridaphoenix.com/blog/misleading-ads-on-florida-test-results-gov-rick-scott-should-do-the-math-maybe/

Georgia Federal Waiver Sought for Districts Seeking to Replace State Test with New Assessments
https://www.ajc.com/news/local-education/georgia-seek-federal-waiver-standardized-tests/pGPzUehQrwSYRJy05ijU4J/

Kentucky Teachers, Others Caution About Imposing Graduation Exam
https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/education/article218919610.html
Kentucky Want Better Test Scores, Try Supporting Teachers
https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/tom-eblen/article219049720.html

Maryland PARCC Test to Be Replaced with New Assessment
https://www.wbaltv.com/article/parcc-test-to-be-replaced-with-new-assessment/23463493

Massachusetts Test Scores Don’t Paint Full or Accurate Picture of School Performance
https://www.gazettenet.com/School-officials-weigh-in-on-MCAS-results-20491251
Massachusetts “Serious Violations” Lead State to Cancel School’s Test Scores
http://www.worcestermag.com/news/20180928/anomalies-serious-violations-lead-state-to-invalidate-2017-chandler-elementary-school-mcas-results

Michigan End the Testing Madness
https://browncitybanner.mihomepaper.com/articles/testing-madness-has-to-end-in-state/
Michigan Shift to PSAT in Grade 8 Could Hurt Students
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/2018/09/28/opinion-switching-tests-could-harm-students/1436005002/

New Jersey What’s Behind Obstacles to Assessment Reform?
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/18/09/27/op-ed-five-reasons-why-nj-will-once-again-fail-to-resolve-school-testing/

New York Testing Overkill and Its Consequences
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-testing-overkill-and-its-consequences-20180928-story.html
New York Test Opt-Outs Remain Strong on Long Island
https://www.newsday.com/long-island/education/opt-out-test-scores-proficiency-1.21269357
New York Tests Are Failing Our Children
https://hawksites.newpaltz.edu/currents/

North Carolina School Board to Vote on Policies to Limit Testing
http://www.reflector.com/News/2018/10/01/School-board-to-consider-testing-policy.html

Ohio State Shoots Self in Foot with New School Report Card
http://www.dispatch.com/opinion/20180927/george-wood-ohio-shoots-itself-in-foot-with-school-report-card

Pennsylvania Bill Freeing Students From Graduation Test Requirement Advances
http://www.witf.org/news/2018/09/bill-freeing-pa-students-from-standardized-test-graduation-requirement-advances.php

Tennessee In-School ACT Test Cancelled After Security Breach
https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/2018/09/28/act-schedule-tennessee-test-rescheduled-due-security-breach/1454181002/

Virginia School Standards Broadened to Consider More Than Test Scores
https://www.newsleader.com/story/opinion/editorials/2018/09/28/school-standards-broaden-consider-more-than-test-scores-and-thats-good/1458167002/

University Admissions Test-Optional Momentum Accelerates
https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2018/09/28/proponents-test-optional-admissions-point-momentum
University Admissions Rosemont College Becomes Test Optional
https://forextv.com/top-news/rosemont-college-announces-test-optional-admissions-policy/

International Singapore Parents Applaud Move to Reduce Testing Overkill
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/parents-laud-moe-push-to-go-beyond-exams-grades-10769394
International Canada We All Put Too Much Emphasis on Test Scores
https://theconversation.com/we-all-put-too-much-emphasis-on-test-scores-99070

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