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A broad range of voices -- from parents and teachers to scholars and researchers to legislators and governors -- continue to speak out against testing overuse and misuse. As the assessment reform movement grows, it has an ever-increasing impact on public policy, particularly at the district and state level.

Arkansas State to End "Gotcha" School Grades
http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2017/aug/13/gotcha-grades-out-for-schools-...

Colorado Feds Criticize Proposal to Ignore Test Opt-Outs in State ESSA Plan

This week's many stories of K-12 assessment reform progress through state ESSA plans and school districts slashing standardized exam requirements are offset by examples of ongoing testing overkill.

Disputes between states and the U.S. Department of Education over Every Student Succeeds Act testing and score reporting requirements under state are accelerating.  Assessment reformers are seeking inclusion of provisions that fulfill the new law's promised flexibility without federal micromanagement. In jurisdictions still working on compliance plans, there are still opportunities to press for fewer standardized exams and a reduction of high-stakes.  

Believe it or not, we're on the verge of another school year.  Classrooms in several southern states, including Florida, welcome students back in barely two weeks.  Fortunately, children (and teachers) in many jurisdictions will face fewer standardized exams and less high-stakes testing in 2017-2018 because of the mounting successes of the grassroots assessment reform movement.  This week's news clips report more signs of progress.

There's no evidence of any "summer doldrums" for the U.S. assessment reform movement.  With each week, more and more states respond to grassroots pressure by reducing testing mandates and the time devoted to standardized exams.

 Continuing a slow but steady movement, several more states have eliminated testing requirements and others are considering rolling back mandates. There's still a long way to go to end test misuse and overuse, but signs of progress should not be downplayed.
     Assessment reform advocates looking for more information about alternatives to standardized exams should check out FairTest Board member Deborah Meier's newly published book Beyond Testing (https://deborahmeier.com/2017/07/10/beyond-testing/) -- use the code TCP2017 for a 20% discount

Grassroots struggles to free students, educators and schools from the tyranny of standardized testing misuse and overuse continue to make progress as the U.S.

Still lots of assessment reform activity in many states as Independence Day approaches. We particularly encourage you to check out the three longer pieces in "Worth Reading" for the upcoming, four-day holiday weekend

With stories from 20 states in just the past week, it's clear that controversies around school testing policies are not abating. Grassroots pressure from parents, students, educators, and community leaders is forcing some policymakers to back off from failed test-and-punish policies. The summer academic break is a great time to build even stronger assessment reform campaigns for the fall.

Alabama School Reevaluate Testing Definition of Readiness
https://lagniappemobile.com/schools-re-evaluate-readiness-amid-testing-c...

Responding to grassroots pressure from parents, educators, and community leaders more state policymakers are agreeing to reduce the time students are required to spend taking superfluous standardized exams. But there's still a long way to go to achieve meaningful assessment reform in most jurisditions. Keep the pressure on over the summer!