Testing Resistance & Reform News: November 27 - December 3, 2013

Despite the Thanksgiving holiday, the assessment reform movement continued to keep the pressure on policy-makers across the nation. Even more protest activities are planned for next week's "Day of Action to Reclaim the Purpose of Public Education," which FairTest endorses.

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Dec. 9 "Day of Action to Reclaim the Purpose of Public Education"
http://educationopportunitynetwork.org/dec-9-declared-day-of-action-to-reclaim-the-promise-of-public-education/

Southwest Florida Parents Push Teaching Over Testing
http://www.news-press.com/article/20131126/NEWS0104/311260026/Southwest-Florida-parents-push-teaching-over-tests

Local Newspaper's Lead Editorial Supporting the Parents & FairTest
http://www.news-press.com/article/20131129/OPINION/311290014/Editorial-Parents-fight-against-testing-classroom

Test-Driven Evaluations Don't Make The Grade for Thousands of Florida Teachers
http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/11/29/3786125/for-thousands-of-florida-teachers.html

Western New York Parents Unite to Fight Common Core Tests
http://www.metrowny.com/news/931-Lancaster_parents_unite_to_fight_Common_Core,_informational_meeting_held.html

Long Island Parents, Students & Teachers Revolt Against Common Core Standardized Exam Overkill
http://www.longislandpress.com/2013/11/29/li-parents-teachers-revolt-against-common-core/

Strong Letters to the Editor Criticize Common Core Assessment Plan
http://www.newsday.com/opinion/letters/letter-common-core-rankles-1.6509068

Another School Board Calls for Testing Cutback
http://www.registerstar.com/news/article_44bab452-549d-11e3-9e20-0019bb2963f4.html

Why Local Districts Don't Trust State Assessment Schemes
http://education.lohudblogs.com/2013/12/02/the-state-vs-lohud-how-they-see-our-educational-needs/

Common Core Controversy is Another Chapter of Test-and-Punish Debate
http://janresseger.wordpress.com/2013/11/25/common-core-debate-is-really-just-another-chapter-of-test-and-punish/

Benefits of Standardized-Exam-Driven Standards Questioned in New Jersey
http://ridgewood.patch.com/groups/schools/p/benefit-of-state-school-standards-draws-questions-in-ridgewood

How Massachusetts' State Tests Diluted Educational Quality
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/living-in-dialogue/2013/11/a_student_writes_how_mcas_dera.html

Politically Motivated Over-Testing Undermining New Mexico Educational Quality
http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-opinion/ci_24630688/tim-keller-over-testing-is-driving-education-out

Campaign to Put Test-Driven Teacher Evaluation into Missouri State Constitution
http://dianeravitch.net/2013/11/26/missouri-corporate-reformers-want-to-put-standardized-testing-for-teacher-evaluation-into-state-constitution/

Dozens of Virginia School Boards Call for Testing Cutback
http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlines/City-County-School-Board-Members-Seeking-End-to-SOLs-234134341.html

Doubling Down on Failure, Duncan Insists on Test-Based Teacher Evaluation for NCLB Waivers
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/12/02/2925150/teacher-evaluation-again-under.html

Gates' Model for Test-Based Educator Ranking Failed in Corporate World
http://www.alternet.org/education/billionaire-bill-gates-and-his-army-reformers-terrible-idea-bringing-ruthless-corporate

What's Good for Bill Gates is Bad for Education (and for Microsoft, too)
https://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/11/30-0#.UpsIXyDch_U.facebook

Incessant Standardized Exams Test Students' Patients (and interest in education)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/29/standardized-tests_n_4361420.html

The Manipulation of Public Opinion Around PISA Scores
http://www.epi.org/blog/pisa-day-ideological-hyperventilated-exercise/

Why Finland Beats the U.S. in International Test Results
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/12/02/why-is-a-country-the-size-of-new-mexico-beating-the-u-s-in-academic-performance/

What Do Finnish Teachers Think About Standardized Testing and Rankings
http://www.taughtbyfinland.com/1/post/2013/11/-what-do-finnish-teachers-think-of-standardized-testing-and-rankings.html#.Upi7vLT3O4E

Let's Move Schools From Test-Driven Competition to Hands-on Cooperation
https://bangordailynews.com/2013/11/27/opinion/lets-move-our-schools-from-test-driven-competition-to-hands-on-cooperation/