news

for further information, contact
Jesse Mermell (617) 350-8207
Robert Schaeffer (239) 395-6773
cell (239) 699-0468

for use on or after Tuesday, March 3, 2009

LIST OF TEST-OPTIONAL SCHOOLS TOPS 815;
AS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PREPARE FOR ADMISSIONS TESTS, MORE COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES ELIMINATE ACT/SAT REQUIREMENTS

These are questions FairTest believes should be asked of Arne Duncan at his confirmation hearing for Secretary of Education, to be held before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee on Tuesday, January 13.

Open Letter to President-elect Obama

On the 7th Anniversary of the “No Child Left Behind” Law

“Keep Your Promises to Fix NCLB”

During the presidential campaign, FairTest paid close attention to the candidates whenever they addressed No Child Left Behind. It will be some time before President-Elect Barack Obama takes action that will flesh out the mostly vague statements he made while campaigning, and even longer before anything specific happens with the federal education law. In the meantime, here is a compilation of his comments on NCLB from his web site and the campaign trail.

Contact: Gary Ratner
Executive Director, Citizens for Effective Schools
301 469-8000                               

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Forum on Educational Accountability Successful in its Efforts to Improve the Higher Education Act, P.L. 110-315

FairTest's Monty Neill presented invited testimony on graduation tests and alternatives to the Maryland Board of Education. The letter also appears attached at the bottom as a formatted PDF:

October 21, 2008

James DeGraffenreidt, Chair
Members of the State Board of Education
200 West Baltimore Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

Copies sent by regular mail and e-mail

Dear Chairman DeGraffenreidt and Members of the Maryland Board of Education,

      for further information, contact

Jesse Mermell (857) 350-8207                                               
Robert Schaeffer (239) 395-6773
cell (239) 699-0468

for immediate release Wednesday, October 22, 2008

for further information, contact

Jesse Mermell    (857) 350-8207
Robert Schaeffer    (239) 395-6773
cell    (239) 699-0468

for immediate release Monday, September 22, 2008

The Presidential Candidates on NCLB – Update, October 2008

With just two months until the presidential election, the Democratic and Republican parties have had their respective conventions and produced party platforms, which gives us an opportunity to see if the candidates are saying anything new about NCLB. The short answer is, nothing very specific. Independent candidate Ralph Nader, on the other hand, specifically calls for the law’s repeal. Libertarian Bob Barr and other candidates have also weighed in on the law since our last update in June.

for further information:
Bob Schaeffer: (239) 395-6773
cell: (239) 699-0468

for use with annual SAT score release -- 11am EDT Tuesday, August 26, 2008

SAT LOSING MARKET SHARE TO TEST-OPTIONAL COLLEGES AND ACT;
EXAM’S BIASES AND WEAK PREDICTIVE VALIDITY REDUCE ITS POPULARITY

The SAT is losing market-share as a college admissions test.