Thirty-five years ago this weekend, news stories across the nation reported, “The tens of millions of Americans who take standardized exams each year now have an organization to defend their rights.” FairTest, the National Center for Fair & Open Testing was launched at a news conference featuring civil rights, education reform, feminist, and student leadersduring the College Board’s annual meeting.
Pressure from grassroots activists and a bipartisan group of policymakers has forced President Trump and Education Secretary DeVos to allow states to suspend federal standardized exam requirements in the wake of the coronavirus. To protect public school children, educators and their families, state leaders must now be pressed to: 1) Apply immediately for waivers of federal assessment mandates by filing a formal request with the U.S. Department of Education to be relieved of Every Student Succeeds Act testing obligations; AND
Pressure from grassroots activists and a bipartisan group of policymakers has forced President Trump and Education Secretary DeVos to allow states to suspend federal standardized exam requirements in the wake of the coronavirus. But to completely eliminate Spring 2020 testing, state leaders must 1) file formal requests with the U.S. Department of Education to be relieved of Every Student Succeeds Act testing mandates for this year, and 2) lift all requirements for state-required testing by legislative action to amend state laws or by executive order
Response to the coronavirus pandemic dominates this week's testing news, just as it does for other major activities. As this collection of articles makes clear, there's no excuse for compelling children to sit for standardized exams in this risky environment.
