Testing Resistance & Reform News: May 1 – 7, 2019

Lots of progress this week in reducing (or eliminating!) the role of standardized tests in teacher evaluation plus huge opt-outs in New York and more test-optional admissions policy adoptions. The grassroots assessment reform movement continues to grow — and win — across the U.S.

Florida Lawmakers Take First Step to Ease State Teacher Exam Requirements
https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local-news/i-team-investigates/florida-lawmakers-vote-to-help-teachers-struggling-to-pass-state-teacher-exam
Florida High-Stakes Testing is Immoral and Unjust
https://www.gainesville.com/opinion/20190503/amanda-lacy-shitama-high-stakes-testing-mandates-are-immoral-unjust

Illinois Legislature Considers Bills to Suspend or Eliminate Entry-Level Teacher Test
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/illinois/articles/2019-05-05/illinois-lawmakers-to-consider-new-teacher-testing-methods

Massachusetts New Boston Superintendent Has Been High-Stakes Testing Critic
https://commonwealthmagazine.org/education/with-cassellius-boston-taps-high-stakes-testing-opponent/
Massachusetts School Committee Concerned About State Exam Question with Racial Overtones
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/mcas-question-troubles-pittsfield-school-committee,572074

Michigan Governor Signs Law Delaying Test-Based Teacher Evaluation
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/michigan/articles/2019-04-30/michigan-legislature-oks-delay-in-teacher-evaluation-change

New Mexico Test Data Dropped From Teacher Rankings
https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/briefs/test-data-dropped-from-new-mexico-teacher-evaluations/article_134ee9dc-da13-5f8f-be4a-119d8a9a0c22.html

New York Math Test Opt-Outs High for Fifth Straight Year
https://www.newsday.com/long-island/education/math-test-boycott-opt-outs-1.30607599
New York Two Crucial Questions About Selective High Schools Admission Test
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2019/05/01/two-key-questions-about-how-new-york-city-admits-students-into-its-elite-public-schools/
New York Teachers Union Delegates Unanimously Vote “No Confidence” in State Ed Head Over Testing Policies
https://www.nysut.org/news/2019/may/ra-2019-delegates-call-on-regents-to-direct-state-education-commissioner-to-overhaul-testing-system

South Carolina Huge Educator Rally at State House Targets Testing Excess
https://www.aikenstandard.com/education/education-rally-at-statehouse-was-amazing-day-of-solidarity/article_6a73cca0-6c5d-11e9-9bfc-cbc4240b8f8e.html

Texas Some Versions of State Test Included “F-Bomb” Obscenity
https://www.chron.com/houston/article/TEA-STAAR-Test-F-bomb-obscenity-13813449.php

Utah New Computerized Test Malfunctions Twice in First Week
https://www.parkrecord.com/news/utahs-new-standardized-test-malfunctions-in-first-days-affecting-park-city-students/

Washington Possible Implications If Governor Signs Grad Test Repeal Legislation
https://keprtv.com/news/local/standardized-state-testing-possible-implications-on-a-students-future

University Admissions Varsity Blues Scandal Impacts Students with Learning Disabilities
https://pix11.com/2019/05/01/heres-how-the-college-admission-scandal-impacted-students-with-disabilities/
University Admissions Flagship New Hampshire Campus Eliminates ACT/SAT Requirement
https://www.fosters.com/news/20190506/unh-admissions-eliminates-sat-or-act-requirement
University Admissions Evergreen State College Goes Test-Optional
https://www.evergreen.edu/admissions/test-optional-admission

Worth Reading Teachers Union President Bemoans Fixation on Testing
https://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/441963-teacher-union-president-says-there-is-too-much-fixation-on-testing-in-us
Testing Season Puts End to School Year Teaching and Learning
https://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2019/05/is-your-school-year-over-already.html

Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing
office- (239) 395-6773 mobile- (239) 699-0468
web- http://www.fairtest.org

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