Despite severe weather across the southern U.S., campaigns against standardized exam overkill and for better methods of assessment continue to accelerate. FairTest hopes all our allies in Texas, Florida and other states hit hard by hurricanes Harvey and Irma are safe and will soon be able to return to their effective assessment reform activism.
ArizonaEducators Worry That New School Grading System Won’t Convey Useful Information
http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-education/2017/09/07/educators-worry-arizonas-new-school-grade-system-too-complicated/638080001/
Arizona Test Scores Don’t Tell the Whole Story
http://tucson.com/opinion/letters/schools/letter-azmerit-test-scores-don-t-tell-the-whole-picture/article_38912f48-94c8-11e7-919a-c79edf764f8c.html
ConnecticutTest Score Misuse Fuels Teacher Shortages
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Wendy-Lecker-Fueling-the-teacher-shortage-12183955.php
FloridaCandidates Must Grasp Why Educators Oppose Standardized Tests
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/os-ed-why-educators-do-not-like-standardized-tests-20170906-story.html
HawaiiSchools Try Out New Test to Measure Students’ Character
http://khon2.com/2017/09/05/hawaii-schools-among-group-implementing-new-test-to-measure-students-character/
IndianaSuperintendent’s Letter to Parents Explains Why Test Scores Are Irrelevant
http://www.journalgazette.net/opinion/columns/20170908/nacs-outlines-for-parents-irrelevance-of-istep
LouisianaState Resumes Discredited “Value Added” Teacher Evaluations
http://vamboozled.com/much-of-the-same-in-louisiana/
MassachusettsTesting Comes Under Fire Again
http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/news/ci_31297093/standardized-testing-comes-under-fire-again-mass
Massachusetts Test Scores Don’t Tell the Real Story
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2017/09/06/test-scores-dont-tell-the-whole-story.html
Massachusetts Selective High Schools Would Be More Diverse If They Did Not Rely on Admissions Exams
http://news.wgbh.org/2017/09/05/local-news/boston-public-school-students-may-be-disadvantage-getting-boston-latin
MichiganHow One District Looks Beyond Testing to Real World Learning
http://michiganradio.org/post/how-one-school-district-looks-beyond-standardized-tests-toward-real-world-flexible-learning
MontanaSenator Speaks Out Against Standardized Exams
http://www.sidneyherald.com/news/tester-speaks-against-standardized-tests/article_ab3e2874-91a9-11e7-8563-d7c10c6d629e.html
New YorkNew State ESSA Campaign Reduces Emphasis on Tests to Assist Struggling Schools
https://dailygazette.com/article/2017/09/11/state-tries-to-shift-focus-away-from-school-tests
North CarolinaPublic School Standardized Testing Misses the Point
http://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/editorials/article171640927.html
OhioInvest in Children, Not Tests
https://www.ohio.com/akron/editorial/voice-of-the-people/letters-to-the-editor-sept-9-invest-in-children-not-tests-what-if-columbus-had-been-pc
South CarolinaTesting Stresses: A Student Perspective
http://www.thecolumbiastar.com/news/2017-09-08/Education/Testing_Stresses.html
TexasSeeking Public Input on District-Level Accountability
https://communityimpact.com/austin/georgetown/education/2017/09/13/georgetown-isd-will-seek-public-input-district-level-accountability-system/
VirginiaTest Score Fixation is Obstacle to Educational Progress
https://pilotonline.com/opinion/letters/letter-obstacles-in-u-s-education/article_c68dd0ca-e640-57ac-9646-11cfd56fbb5e.html
WashingtonStudents Can Apply for Waiver From Graduation Testing Requirement
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/politics-government/article170877672.html
University AdmissionsACT Exam Cancelled in Many Overseas Locations Due to Cheating
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/09/07/security-breach-forces-act-test-cancellation-in-asia-and-weather-causes-some-in-u-s/
University Admissions Bloomfield College to Become Test-Optional
https://www.tapinto.net/towns/nutley/categories/news/articles/bloomfield-college-to-become-test-optional-with-f-1
University Admissions Who Benefits From the Expansion of AP Classes?
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/07/magazine/who-benefits-from-the-expansion-of-ap-classes.html
Worth ReadingDistricts Increase Formative Assessments, Reduce High-Stake Exams
https://www.districtadministration.com/article/k12-makes-assessment-shifts
Worth Reading “These Schools Belong to You and Me” New Book Co-Authored by FairTest Board Member Deb Meier
http://www.beacon.org/These-Schools-Belong-to-You-and-Me-P1294.aspx
Worth Reading New Tool Alerts Teachers When Students Give Up on Tests
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2017/09/06/new-tool-alerts-teachers-when-students-give.html
Worth Watching(corrected link) The Insanity of Kindergarten Assessments
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qu40uvGSKwE
Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing
office-(239) 395-6773 fax-(239) 395-6779
mobile-(239) 699-0468
web-http://www.fairtest.org