Testing Resistance & Reform News: September 30 - October 6, 2020

One month from Election Day 2020, the future of standardized exam requirements is becoming increasingly controversial in state and local contests.  As you fill out your ballot, remember that high-stakes testing is now more of a "political" issue than an "educational" one. Your vote can make a difference in determining the future direction of assessment policies

National Where the Major Party Presidential Candidates Stand on Student Testing (and other educational issues)
https://www.edweek.org/ew/projects/education2020/index.html

California Should State Administer Standardized Tests During the Pandemic
https://ihselvaquero.com/1025/viewpoint/should-schools-give-students-standardized-tests-during-these-unprecedented-times/

Florida Parents Angered by State Requiring Students to Take Standardized Tests in Person Under COVID
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/education/os-ne-testing-in-person-online-education-20200930-qcyklv4fhngphh6zocgpjgxkxi-story.html

Georgia Political Fight Over How Much to Devalue Role of State Test Scores
https://www.wrdw.com/2020/10/02/georgia-state-board-proposes-tests-count-for-10-of-student-grade/

Massachusetts Cancelling 2021 State Tests Is Issue of Economic Equity
https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/10/01/dont-add-2021-mcas-to-students-pandemic-burden/

New York State Test Still Scheduled Despite Push to Cancel
https://www.whec.com/back-to-school-rochester/state-assessment-tests-still-on-despite-calls-to-cancel/5881323/

Ohio One-Size-Fits-All State Report Cards Don't Show Nuances of Student Ability
https://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/story/news/local/2020/10/04/educators-ohio-report-cards-dont-show-nuances-students-ability/5869978002/

Pennsylvania Will Standardized Tests Be Cancelled for Second Year in a Row; Many Hope So
https://www.inquirer.com/education/pssa-keystone-pennsylvania-cancel-exam-20201005.html

Tennessee School Systems Across State Press for Testing Moratorium
https://heraldcourier.com/news/school-systems-across-tennessee-push-for-moratorium-on-standardized-testing/article_4b004580-3ab5-5977-88ec-e578260e4aa5.html

Texas Does Test-Based Grading System Measure Up During a Pandemic?
https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/commentary/article/Commentary-Does-A-F-grading-system-measure-up-in-15617534.php

Virginia Lottery Considered to Replace Test-Scores for Admission to Selective High School
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/americas-top-sat-school-makes-another-disputed-attempt-at-diversity/2020/10/03/1bef3db2-0261-11eb-897d-3a6201d6643f_story.html

West Virginia Inside Story of College Board vs ACT Lobbying for High School Testing Contract
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/americas-top-sat-school-makes-another-disputed-attempt-at-diversity/2020/10/03/1bef3db2-0261-11eb-897d-3a6201d6643f_story.html

University Admissions How the SAT Failed America
https://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2020/09/30/the-forbes-investigation-how-the-sat-failed-america/#7d74a6ff53b5
University Admissions 1,600 Colleges Are Now Test-Optional; How Many Will Go Back?
https://www.edsurge.com/news/2020-09-25-1-600-colleges-are-now-test-optional-how-many-will-go-back
University Admissions Beyond ACT/SAT Optional, Many Schools Becoming "Test Free'
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/college-admissions-2021-sat/2020/10/03/5a6885b6-03f7-11eb-897d-3a6201d6643f_story.html

Worth Reading DeVos Strong-Arm Embrace of Required Testing Is Part of School Privatization Strategy
https://www.ajc.com/education/get-schooled-blog/book-devos-strong-arm-stance-on-tests-part-of-privatization-strategy/5FDVZ7E7FBHXNDHVUPU3ZIT2TY/
Worth Reading What Is All This Data For?
https://builtin.com/big-data/what-is-all-this-data-for

Bob Schaeffer, interim Executive Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing
contributor: The Scandal of Standardized Tests: Why We Need to Drop the SAT & ACT
   (new from Teachers College Press, Spring 2020)
office-  (239) 395-6773   mobile-  (239) 699-0468
web-  http://www.fairtest.org