Testing Resistance & Reform News: September 28 - October 4, 2016

National Protecting Opportunity to Learn Through ESSA -- Free Webinar
http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6041/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_page_KEY=7286

Arizona Demographics Dominate School Test Scores
http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2016/sep/30/demographics-dominate-state-school-test-scores/

California Dashboard Data Will Guide School Improvement
http://educationnext.org/californias-dashboard-data-will-guide-improvement-forum-hough-kirst-accountability/
California How High-Stakes Testing Doomed Bi-literacy
http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/31_01/31-1_gonzales.shtml

Florida Teachers, Parents Lead Way in Review of New Federal Education Law
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/teachers-parents-lead-way-in-florida-review-of-new-federal-education-rules/2295379
Florida Replace Test-Based Teacher Bonuses with Better Pay
http://www.starfl.com/news/20161003/better-bonus-for-teachers

Georgia Poverty Undermines Achievement
http://www.myajc.com/news/news/local-education/poverty-turns-schools-into-suppliers-of-everyday-n/nshK4/ 
Georgia State Schools Superintendent Assesses Opportunities in ESSA Testing Changes
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/local/education/article104628856.html

Idaho Mandated Tests Not Good for Children
http://www.mtexpress.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/mandated-tests-not-good-for-children/article_1595b80a-fb55-11e5-bcd1-d778e2ece324.html

Illinois Poverty is Greatest Obstacle to Educational Achievement
http://myjournalcourier.com/news/100908/teachers-call-poverty-education-obstacle

Louisiana Public at Odds with Policymakers Over Role of Testing
http://louisianaeducator.blogspot.com/2016/09/the-public-seems-to-be-at-odds-with.html

Massachusetts State Ed Boss: Delay Start of New Test
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/2016/09/state_ed_boss_delay_start_of_new_test
Massachusetts Testing Testing
http://www.itemlive.com/opinion/testing-testing/

Michigan The "Wisdom" of Mandatory Grade Retention
https://www.brookings.edu/research/the-wisdom-of-mandatory-grade-retention/

New York Students More Likely to Fail Regents Tests on Hot Days
http://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/ny/2016/09/28/is-it-getting-hot-in-here-if-so-youre-less-likely-to-pass-a-high-stakes-test/
New York The Future of Common Core in the Empire State
http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/e/i2/edsolutions/201609/3CommonCore.pdf

Ohio Online vs Paper Tests Causes "Seesaw" Effect in School Grades
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/09/online_vs_paper_tests_create_seesaw_effect_on_state_report_card_grades_school_official_says.html

Pennsylvania The Measure of Citizenship Isn't an Exit Exam
https://gadflyonthewallblog.wordpress.com/2016/09/29/the-measure-of-citizenship-isnt-an-exit-exam-its-participating-in-our-democracy/
Pennsylvania The (In)Accuracy of Using Test Scores to Assess Principal Performance
http://educationresearchreport.blogspot.com/2016/09/assessing-accuracy-of-evaluating.html

Tennessee Teachers Question New State Testing Vendor
http://www.wbir.com/news/local/education/teachers-talk-with-tns-new-standardized-testing-vendor/326990392
Tennessee Education is More Than Test Scores
http://www.chattanoogan.com/2016/9/30/333048/More-Than-A-Test-Score.aspx

Texas More Changes Coming for State Tests
http://www.krgv.com/story/33264421/tea-introduces-new-changes-in-staar-test

Utah Changing Standards Affects School Grades
http://www.davisclipper.com/view/full_story/27279338/article-Changing-standard-affects-school-grades?instance=secondary_stories_left_column

Vermont School Inspections Offer a Diagnostic Look at Educational Quality
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2016/09/28/school-inspections-offer-a-diagnostic-look-at.html

Virginia A Veteran Teacher's Take on "Education Reform"
http://www.newsadvance.com/opinion/community_viewpoint/garmey-a-veteran-teacher-s-take-on-education-reform/article_5486141a-8746-11e6-885a-d7d1d76fe1db.html
Virginia Award-Winning Principal Reassigned in Wake of Opt-Out Questions
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/award-winning-principal-reassigned-in-wake-of-testing-opt-out-irregularities/2016/10/03/1669a13a-8988-11e6-b24f-a7f89eb68887_story.html

University Admissions SAT Scores Sag as Test-Optional Movement Soars
http://fairtest.org/sats-drop-again-testoptional-movement-surges

Worth Reading Standardized Testing is Bad for Education and Democracy
https://dianeravitch.net/2016/09/27/georg-lind-standardized-testing-is-bad-for-education-and-bad-for-democracy/
Worth Reading The Unintended Consequences of EdTPA on Teacher Education
http://pdkintl.org/blogs/learning-on-the-edge/the-unintended-consequences-of-edtpa/