high stakes

for further information:                                                                
Lisa Guisbond (617) 959-2371
Bob Schaeffer  (239) 395-6773

For release Wednesday, September 8, 2016

"Graduation Test Update: States That Recently Eliminated or Scaled Back High School Exit Exams" lists what is happening with state high school exit exams: the shrinking number of states with them, ones that recently ended them or established a moratorium, states that awarded retroactive diplomas when they ended grad tests, states that lessened the weight or number of the tests, and states that plan to introduce graduation tests in the future.

UPDATED JUNE 2016

"Time to Abolish High School Graduation Tests" explains in two pages how and why mandated high school exit tests damage students and the quality of education. These tests deny diplomas to tens of thousands of students, disproportionately children of color, immigrants or youth with special needs; they do not improve college or career prospects but feed the school-to-prison pipeline; new Common Core tests are likely to increase the dropout rate; and more.

With public schools closing for the summer, many states are reviewing their 2015-2016 testing experience (once again, not a pretty picture) and planning to implement assessment reforms in coming years.  You can help stop the U.S. Department of Education from promoting testing misuse and overuse by weighing in on proposed Every Student Succeeds Act regulations.

Many states are beginning to review their assessment and accountability systems to comply with the new federal Every Student Succeeds Act. Input from grassroots stakeholders -- particularly parents, educators and community leaders -- can help determine whether the revised policies help improve learning and teaching or simply put a different gloss on failed test-and-punish systems.

Lots of stories this week demonstrating the impact of opting out and other effective protests against standardized exam overkill. Please continue to support the testing resistance and reform movement through your own grassroots work and by making a contribution to FairTest at: 

                    https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/fairtest

RESOLUTION ON HIGH-STAKES TESTING

for further information:

Lisa Guisbond  (617) 959-2371
Dr. Monty Neill  (617) 477-9792
Bob Schaeffer   (239) 395-6773

for immediate release, Thursday, October 8, 2015

CALIFORNIA SUSPENDS HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION TEST,
MAKING 30,000+ YOUNG PEOPLE ELIGIBLE FOR RETROACTIVE DIPLOMAS;
JOINS NATIONAL TREND OF STATES REPEALING EXIT EXAMS

for further information:

Dr. Monty Neill (617) 477-9792
Bob Schaeffer  (239) 395-6773

for immediate release, Monday, August 24, 2015

NEW POLL: U.S. PUBLIC STRONGLY BACKS ASSESSMENT REFORM MOVEMENT,
REJECTS TEST-AND-PUNISH POLICIES
FAIRTEST REACTION TO 2015 ANNUAL GALLUP/PHI DELTA KAPPAN SURVEY