Testing Resistance & Reform News: June 11 - 17, 2014

The big assessment reform news this week is at the national level, though there is still lots of state and local action as schools wind down for the summer, Reacting to the rising tide of opposition to the misuse and overuse of standardized exams, policy-makers and their major donors are backpedaling on plans to impose a new generation of high-stakes tests. 

Now is the time for advocates to press the advantage by calling for an indefinite moratorium on testing mandates and adoption of performance-based alternative assessment systems.

Gates Foundation Calls for Moratorium on High-Stakes Uses of Common Core Tests
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/gates-foundation-urges-delay-in-using-tests-for-teacher-evaluation/2014/06/10/d037c7fa-f0e1-11e3-914c-1fbd0614e2d4_story.html

Frankenstein Fears Its Monster: Gates Foundation Wants You to Boycott High-Stakes Tests
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2014/06/13-1

U.S. School Accountability System is Failing Its Test
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dennis-van-roekel/what-real-accountability-_b_5479429.html

Educators Move Toward a New Accountability
http://www.aft.org/newspubs/news/2014/061214accountability.cfm

New Book: Beyond the Bubble Test: How Performance Assessments Support 21st Century Learning
http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1118456181.html

How to Make Competency Based Learning Work
http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2014/06/going-all-in-how-to-make-competency-based-learning-work/

Assessing Learning Without Tests
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/06/11/assessing-learning-without-tests/

States Move to Alter, Delay Test-Based Rating Systems
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2014/06/11/35accountability.h33.html

A Floridian Trip Through the Reformster Swamp: Dissecting Jeb Bush's Foundation's False Claims
http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2014/06/fee-floridian-trip-through-reformster.html?m=1

Teacher Blasts Florida's Toxic Testing Culture
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/os-orange-teacher-toxic-talk-20140612,0,31074.story

Indiana Turmoil Over Testing Continues
http://www.pal-item.com/article/20140616/OPINION/306160002/Turmoil-over-testing-remains

Kansas May Withhold 2014 Test Data Due to Flaws
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2014/jun/10/kansas-education-officials-urge-releasing-only-par/

Troubled Trial Run in Massachusetts for Common Core Tests
http://hechingerreport.org/content/troubled-trial-run-new-common-core-tests_16321/

New Jersey School Board Member: Too Soon to Use Common Core Test Results
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/06/15/op-ed-too-early-for-high-stakes-testing-based-on-common-core-state-standards/

New Jersey Assembly Votes to Delay Test-Based Teacher Evaluation
http://www.northjersey.com/news/education/assembly-oks-delay-on-using-new-tests-to-evaluate-teachers-1.1036370

New Mexico Teacher Evaluation System Flunks Every Test
http://www.abqjournal.com/414266

New Yorkers Overwhelmingly Support Common Core Assessment Delay
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Poll-Slow-Common-Core-5553176.php

New York Demonstrators Call for End to Pearson Field Testing
http://ny.chalkbeat.org/2014/06/11/as-pearsons-annual-field-testing-ends-some-want-them-never-to-start-again/#.U5j1_bGiUng

Proposal Would End Reliance on Single Test Score for New York City Selective High School Admission
http://ny.chalkbeat.org/2014/06/09/city-endorses-legislative-push-to-diversify-elite-high-schools/#.U5dGMrGiUng

Ohio Reduces Role of Test Scores in Teacher Evaluation
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/06/change_in_how_teachers_are_gra.html

Ohio Private Schools Glad to Be Exempt From Common Core Assessments
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/06/private_schools_are_glad_to_av.html

School Testing Policy is Big Issue in Oklahoma Ed. Super Race
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/2014_elections/state-superintendent-candidates-offer-views-on-testing-local-control/article_de370ae2-851c-5e61-a7d6-128fee29c5e0.html

Rhode Island Mom Seeks Grad Test Waiver for Learning Disabled Child
http://www.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/content/20140614-mother-of-a-barrington-student-seeks-necap-waiver-her-daughter-was-denied-a-diploma.ece

Texas Big District Super: Tying High-Stakes Tests to Teacher Evaluation is Harmful
http://www.chron.com/opinion/outlook/article/Henry-Tying-high-stakes-tests-to-teachers-is-5536255.php

Standing Up Against Virginia's State Exams
http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/article/20140613/OPINION/140619338/1065/taking-a-stand-against-sols&template=fairfaxTimes