As the first of this issue’s headlines makes clear, momentum is rapidly building across the U.S. for major assessment reform campaigns. The stories that follow — from 15 states in a holiday-shortened week of news clips — show the breadth and depth of grassroots activity.
National Opt Out Activists Aim to Build on Momentum in State Campaigns
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2016/01/14/opt-out-activists-aim-to-bu…
National Schools Push for More Sensible Testing
http://www.districtadministration.com/article/outlook-schools-push-sensi…
California Governor Says It Is Time to End Test-Based School-Ranking System
http://edsource.org/2016/brown-says-its-time-to-abandon-api-to-judge-sch…
Delaware Opt-Out Supporters Rally at State Legislature
http://www.milfordbeacon.com/article/20160114/NEWS/160119839
Florida Thousands of Teachers Say “Enough is Enough” to State High-Stakes Testing System
http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/thousands-teachers-flock-tallahas…
Florida House Minority Leader Backs Opting Out
http://news.wfsu.org/post/house-minority-leader-pafford-backs-opting-out…
Florida State Starts Showing Some Sanity on Testing
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/opinion/editorials/fl-editorial-education-te…
Georgia See Momentum, Teachers Seeks to Roll Back Testing
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local-education/seeing-momentum-teachers-pu…
Georgia A Teacher Evaluation System Only a Sadist Would Love
http://getschooled.blog.myajc.com/2016/01/16/does-georgia-now-have-a-tea…
Illinois Education Is More Than a Test Score
http://www.journalstandard.com/article/20160114/OPINION/160119682
Indiana State Test Was Flawed From the Start
http://kokomoperspective.com/kp/istep-results-were-faulty-from-the-begin…
Indiana Bills to Hold Schools Harmless From Test Scores Pass Both Houses of Legislature
http://eaglecountryonline.com/local-article/istep-hold-harmless-bills-pa…
Louisiana New Law Allows Parents to View Students’ Test Questions
http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2016/01/parents_see_test_questio…
Maryland State Exploring Options to Cap Standardized Testing
https://wamu.org/news/16/01/15/should_amount_of_standardized_testing_be_…
Massachusetts School Board Backs Moratorium on High-Stakes Testing
http://www.heraldnews.com/news/20160113/fall-river-school-board-backs-mo…
Massachusetts Schools Must Rise Up Against “False God” of Testing
http://www.berkshireeagle.com/columnists/ci_29375097/edward-udel-schools…
Massachusetts Will Children be “Held Harmless” From New State Tests
http://cambridge.wickedlocal.com/article/20160119/NEWS/160116363
Michigan Grassroots Movement Pushes Back Against Weight of Tests
http://www.schoolnewsnetwork.org/index.php/2015-16/weight-test/
New York Opt-Out Groups Seek to Shake Up Board of Regents
http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2016/01/8588265/opt-out-gro…
New York Evaluate Teachers Fairly to Help Improve Student Learning
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/13/opinion/teach-your-teachers-well.html
Ohio Many Questions, Complaints About School Report Cards Based on Obsolete Test
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2016/01/14/Ohio_releases_s…
Ohio State School Board Member Dismantles Fed’s Opt-Out Threats
http://www.plunderbund.com/2016/01/12/state-school-board-member-dismantl…
Pennsylvania Educators, Parents Mobilize for Exit Exam Delay Campaign
http://blog.pennlive.com/capitol-notebook/2016/01/educators_parents_mobi…
Texas Parents, Students, Educators, Business Leaders Call For Less Emphasis on Testing
http://www.expressnews.com/news/education/article/San-Antonio-area-asks-…
Wisconsin Proficient in Standardized Testing Chaos
http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/wisconsin-grades-as-proficient-in…
ACT/SAT Problems with PSAT Score Delivery Spark Widespread Anger at College Board
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/01/17/problems-…
High-Stakes Testing Does Not Protect Civil Rights; It Violates Them
https://gadflyonthewallblog.wordpress.com/2016/01/17/high-stakes-testing…
Black Students Taught by Black Teachers More Likely to Enter Gifted-and-Talented Programs
http://hechingerreport.org/bright-black-students-who-are-taught-by-black…
Can the U.S. Produce Innovative Students With Teachers Chained toTest-Prep Scripts?
http://getschooled.blog.myajc.com/2016/01/19/can-we-produce-innovative-s…