FairTest Report: Test Reform Victories Surge in 2017: What’s Behind the Winning Strategies?
Assessment reform campaigns rolled back the amount of testing andslashedhigh-stakes exams in manystates and districts across the U.S.in 2017. ThisnewFairTestreportexplains how and why local activists were successful.
The report highlights victories that include:
- States with high school exit exams dropped from 25 to 13 since 2012.
- Various states cut tests for Kindergarten and high school. Districts across the nation, including locales with many students of color and low-income families, ended their tests.
- Seven states halted the use of student scores to judge teachers.
- Ten states now allow parents to opt their children out of some or all exams.
- Increasing implementation of performance assessments by states and districts.New Hampshire’s pioneering program now involves half the state’s districts.
The reportfocuses oncase studies of Maryland and seven districts that eliminated or sharply reduced the amount of testing, and of states that ended graduation tests. The studiesdescribehow the victories were won, such asthroughclear organizing strategies, alliance building, usingsurveys,developingclearmessagesthat focuses on benefitsto students, and winning school board elections.
These cases will be of use to union, parent, student and other activistsseeking to end the overuse and misuseof tests and implement teacher-developed, student-focused performance assessments. The report also includes links to a usable, online survey developed by FairTest and allies.
Individual Sections of the Report:
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Executive Summary
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Part I: Victories: What has been won?
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Part II: Overall lessons from state and local victories
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Part III: Case Studies: How victories have been won
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Note: The case studies are each published separately at http://www.fairtest.org/2017-how-state-and-local-testing-reform-activists-won
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Appendix: Survey: Impact of Testing on Teaching and Learning
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Download a PDF of the news release about the report here.