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Today, FairTest is launching the "National Call to Suspend High-Stakes Testing in Spring 2021."  We know from public opinion polls and other research that a vast majority of parents and teachers think it is ridiculous to claim that you can get meaningful results from a standardized test in the

As the Biden presidential transition moves into high gear, a decision about waiving federal standardized exam requirements for spring 2021 looms as one of the first major issues for a new U.S. Secretary of Education to address. Simultaneously, pressure is building on states to waive their own K-12 and university admissions testing mandates. FairTest is working closely with parents, educators and community activists in these vital campaigns.

More than 60% of public school parents support cancelling K-12 standardized exams scheduled for this spring.  Newly published survey data from the University of Southern California "Understanding America Study" show that sentiment for cancelling this academic year's required tests has been growing rapidly as the pandemic has shut down many classrooms. Opposition to administering standardized exams is consistent across all racial and income groups.

The results of last week's landmark elections continue to reverberate across the country and around the world.  Federal education policy is likely to feel some of the most immediate impacts from Joe Biden's presidency.  Already educators, parents, and activists are mobilizing to ensure selection of a Secretary of Education who supports assessment reform and to pressure the Biden Administration to grant states testing waivers for

School testing policy is among the issues whose future direction is being shaped as ballots are cast and counted.  A growing number of office-seekers advocate for replacing standardized exam misuse and overuse with assessments that support learning and teaching.  In other races, the differences among candidates may be more nuanced.  But, across the board, election results will strongly influence whether the test-and-punish status q

FairTest at 35: What's Happening Now, What's Next for Assessment Reform?

More state and local education leaders are weighing in on the need to suspend standardized exam requirements for the current public school year.  A coordinated campaign to seek federal waivers and roll back high-stakes tests, at least for spring 2021, is likely to be launched soon after the upcoming election.  

Across the U.S., a strong movement is building among parents, teachers, school leaders and community activists to win an extension of standardized exam waivers at least through Spring 2021 and to press for a more extensive overhaul of testing requirements.  The last few weeks leading up to November 3 are an excellent time to let elected officials know that their constituents want two decades of testing overuse and misuse to be replaced with better forms of assessment that actually help improve learning and teaching.

One month from Election Day 2020, the future of standardized exam requirements is becoming increasingly controversial in state and local contests.  As you fill out your ballot, remember that high-stakes testing is now more of a "political" issue than an "educational" one. Your vote can make a difference in determining the future direction of assessment policies

National Where the Major Party Presidential Candidates Stand on Student Testing (and other educational issues)

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