Testing Resistance & Reform News: September 6 - 12, 2017
Despite severe weather across the southern U.S., campaigns against standardized exam overkill and for better methods of assessment continue to accelerate. FairTest hopes all our allies in Texas, Florida and other states hit hard by hurricanes Harvey and Irma are safe and will soon be able to return to their effective assessment reform activism.
Arizona Educators Worry That New School Grading System Won't Convey Useful Information
http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-education/2017/09/07/educators-worry-arizonas-new-school-grade-system-too-complicated/638080001/
Arizona Test Scores Don't Tell the Whole Story
http://tucson.com/opinion/letters/schools/letter-azmerit-test-scores-don-t-tell-the-whole-picture/article_38912f48-94c8-11e7-919a-c79edf764f8c.html
Connecticut Test Score Misuse Fuels Teacher Shortages
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Wendy-Lecker-Fueling-the-teacher-shortage-12183955.php
Florida Candidates Must Grasp Why Educators Oppose Standardized Tests
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/os-ed-why-educators-do-not-like-standardized-tests-20170906-story.html
Hawaii Schools Try Out New Test to Measure Students' Character
http://khon2.com/2017/09/05/hawaii-schools-among-group-implementing-new-test-to-measure-students-character/
Indiana Superintendent's Letter to Parents Explains Why Test Scores Are Irrelevant
http://www.journalgazette.net/opinion/columns/20170908/nacs-outlines-for-parents-irrelevance-of-istep
Louisiana State Resumes Discredited "Value Added" Teacher Evaluations
http://vamboozled.com/much-of-the-same-in-louisiana/
Massachusetts Testing Comes Under Fire Again
http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/news/ci_31297093/standardized-testing-comes-under-fire-again-mass
Massachusetts Test Scores Don't Tell the Real Story
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2017/09/06/test-scores-dont-tell-the-whole-story.html
Massachusetts Selective High Schools Would Be More Diverse If They Did Not Rely on Admissions Exams
http://news.wgbh.org/2017/09/05/local-news/boston-public-school-students-may-be-disadvantage-getting-boston-latin
Michigan How One District Looks Beyond Testing to Real World Learning
http://michiganradio.org/post/how-one-school-district-looks-beyond-standardized-tests-toward-real-world-flexible-learning
Montana Senator Speaks Out Against Standardized Exams
http://www.sidneyherald.com/news/tester-speaks-against-standardized-tests/article_ab3e2874-91a9-11e7-8563-d7c10c6d629e.html
New York New State ESSA Campaign Reduces Emphasis on Tests to Assist Struggling Schools
https://dailygazette.com/article/2017/09/11/state-tries-to-shift-focus-away-from-school-tests
North Carolina Public School Standardized Testing Misses the Point
http://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/editorials/article171640927.html
Ohio Invest in Children, Not Tests
https://www.ohio.com/akron/editorial/voice-of-the-people/letters-to-the-editor-sept-9-invest-in-children-not-tests-what-if-columbus-had-been-pc
South Carolina Testing Stresses: A Student Perspective
http://www.thecolumbiastar.com/news/2017-09-08/Education/Testing_Stresses.html
Texas Seeking Public Input on District-Level Accountability
https://communityimpact.com/austin/georgetown/education/2017/09/13/georgetown-isd-will-seek-public-input-district-level-accountability-system/
Virginia Test Score Fixation is Obstacle to Educational Progress
https://pilotonline.com/opinion/letters/letter-obstacles-in-u-s-education/article_c68dd0ca-e640-57ac-9646-11cfd56fbb5e.html
Washington Students Can Apply for Waiver From Graduation Testing Requirement
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/politics-government/article170877672.html
University Admissions ACT Exam Cancelled in Many Overseas Locations Due to Cheating
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/09/07/security-breach-forces-act-test-cancellation-in-asia-and-weather-causes-some-in-u-s/
University Admissions Bloomfield College to Become Test-Optional
https://www.tapinto.net/towns/nutley/categories/news/articles/bloomfield-college-to-become-test-optional-with-f-1
University Admissions Who Benefits From the Expansion of AP Classes?
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/07/magazine/who-benefits-from-the-expansion-of-ap-classes.html
Worth Reading Districts Increase Formative Assessments, Reduce High-Stake Exams
https://www.districtadministration.com/article/k12-makes-assessment-shifts
Worth Reading "These Schools Belong to You and Me" New Book Co-Authored by FairTest Board Member Deb Meier
http://www.beacon.org/These-Schools-Belong-to-You-and-Me-P1294.aspx
Worth Reading New Tool Alerts Teachers When Students Give Up on Tests
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2017/09/06/new-tool-alerts-teachers-when-students-give.html
Worth Watching (corrected link) The Insanity of Kindergarten Assessments
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qu40uvGSKwE
Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing
office- (239) 395-6773 fax- (239) 395-6779
mobile- (239) 699-0468
web- http://www.fairtest.org
1,380+ Accredited, 4-Year Colleges & Universities with ACT/SAT-Optional Testing Policies for Fall, 2022 Admissions