With more public schools planning to re-open in the next few weeks, either on-line or in-person, the debate over whether students should face mandatory standardized exams in the coming year is escalating. Make sure your local elected officials know where you stand. K-12 education policymakers should follow the lead of higher education — almost 65% of colleges and universities have already eliminated ACT/SAT test requirements for fall 2021 applicants with many more in the pipeline
National Why Bother Academic Testing in 2021?
http://vamboozled.com/why-bother-testing-in-2021/
National Schools Should Skip the Big Standardized Exam for the Coming Year
https://www.forbes.com/sites/petergreene/2020/08/14/schools-should-scrap-the-big-standardized-test-this-year/#a13434379f59
Arkansas Thousands Sign Letter to Governor Call for State Test Suspension if Schools Reopen
https://www.bentoncourier.com/news/4k-plus-sign-open-letter-to-governor-regarding-reopening-schools/article_c2351dae-de3a-11ea-831f-cf4d39773101.html
California Student Takes Issue With School Testing
https://patch.com/california/dublin/letter-dublin-student-takes-issue-schools-testing-grading
Florida State Intends to Administer Standardized Exams in a Pandemic
https://www.floridaphoenix.com/2020/08/14/the-reprieve-is-over-fl-students-will-have-to-take-state-exams-in-2020-21-even-in-a-pandemic/
Massachusetts Advocates Push Bill to Suspend High-Stakes Testing Requirements
https://www.masslive.com/news/2020/08/mass-educators-urge-passage-of-controversial-bill-to-suspend-mcas-testing-for-four-years-saying-the-test-fails-low-income-students-and-students-of-color.html
Michigan Legislature to Debate Test Moratorium Extension as Part of School Reopening Package
https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2020/08/coronavirus-school-reopenings-to-take-center-stage-in-weekend-legislative-session-heres-what-lawmakers-might-do.html
North Carolina For Now, End-of-Grade Tests Remain on School Calendar
https://www.salisburypost.com/2020/08/17/for-now-end-of-grade-tests-still-planned-in-public-schools/
Ohio Bipartisan Bill Being Developed to Extend Annual Testing Suspension
https://www.morningjournal.com/news/lorain-county/avon-lake-schools-to-proceed-cautiously-superintendent-says/article_ac7835bc-dd83-11ea-b744-37936a13c925.html
Tennessee School Boards Seek State Testing Moratorium
https://www.dnj.com/story/news/2020/08/14/school-boards-want-moratorium-on-standardized-testing-this-year/3340158001/
Virginia Reforms Coming to Selective High School Admissions
https://www.princewilliamtimes.com/opinion/guest-column-admission-reforms-coming-for-governor-s-schools/article_74fc0fe6-de46-11ea-aa83-df25da7131e2.html
University Admissions Three-Fifths of 4-Year Colleges Are Now ACT/SAT-Optional: Total of Schools Tops 1,450
https://www.fairtest.org/threefifths-fouryear-colleges-and-universities-are
University Admission NCAA Suspends Standardized Exam Requirement for Athletic Eligibility
https://nbc-2.com/news/sports/2020/08/17/ncaa-wont-require-a-standardized-test-for-initial-eligibility-requirements-for-2021-22/
International Britain Replaces Faulty Exams with Grades From Teachers
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/aug/17/a-levels-gcse-results-england-based-teacher-assessments-government-u-turn
Worth Reading As Some Schools Reopen, Pressure Builds to Re-assess Value of Standardized Exams
https://www.usnews.com/news/elections/articles/2020-08-12/as-schools-move-toward-reopening-its-time-to-reassess-high-stakes-testing
Bob Schaeffer, interim Executive Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing
office- (239) 395-6773 mobile- (239) 699-0468
web- http://www.fairtest.org