FairTest Testing Resistance & Reform News: May 31 - June 6, 2017

FairTest Testing Resistance & Reform News: May 31 - June 6, 2017

Intense controversies over testing continue at the state and local levels.  Many legislatures and school boards are responding to the demands of grassroots assessment reformers by eliminating some standardized exams and reducing the stakes attached to their scores.

National New Federal Law May Increase Testing of English Language Learners
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2017/05/24/more-testing-is-forecast-for-nations-ell.html

Alabama Changes Could Be Coming to State Testing
http://www.clantonadvertiser.com/2017/05/30/changes-could-be-coming-to-state-testing/

California Board Rethinking How to Assess Alternative Schools
http://www.dailynews.com/general-news/20170603/california-board-of-education-rethinking-how-to-measure-alternative-school-performance

Florida School Grading System Encourages Students to Take Two Final Exam in Same Course
http://extracredit.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2017/06/01/parent-2-final-exams-for-the-same-course-blame-school-grades-formula/

Illinois State Science Exam Scores Delayed by More Than a Year
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-science-exams-met-20170605-story.html

New Jersey Over-testing Is Hurting the Children It Was Supposed to Help
https://dianeravitch.net/2017/06/05/new-jersey-over-testing-is-hurting-the-children-it-is-supposed-to-help/

New York Taking Too Many Tests Detracts From Joy of Learning
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/life/2017/06/01/too-many-tests-can-detract-joy-learning/345679001/
New York Rebranding Common Core as "Next Generation Learning Standards"
https://suffolktimes.timesreview.com/2017/06/75579/common-core-rebranded-next-generation-learning-standards/

North Carolina End-of-Grade Tests Cause Panic Attacks in Young Children
https://www.facebook.com/talesofaneducateddebutante/posts/1894555084119885:0

Ohio ACT Reverses Policy and Will Score Exams After Test-maker's Mistake
http://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/act-to-accept-score-all-1300-tests-originally-deemed-invalid-due-to-misadministration

Pennsylvania Keystone Exams Get Failing Grade
http://www.dailylocal.com/general-news/20170603/keystone-exams-get-a-failing-grade-locally

South Carolina Questions About Role of Test Scores in Teacher Evaluations
http://counton2.com/2017/05/30/charleston-teacher-evaluations-questioned-for-emphasis-on-test-scores/

Tennessee Scanning Problems Further Delay Test Score Reporting
http://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/education/2017/06/02/scanning-problems-delay-tnready-scores/366219001/

Texas Legislature Wants to Extend Non-Test Graduation Options
http://www.kristv.com/story/35553851/the-states-alternative-graduation-program
Texas State Sanctions More Educators for Test Cheating
http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/education/episd/2017/06/02/state-sanctions-el-paso-high-coronado-administrators/365465001/

Washington Legislators Press to Eliminate Graduation Testing Requirement
http://katu.com/news/local/washington-state-lawmakers-want-to-change-hs-graduation-based-on-passing-tests
Washington Linking Graduation to High-Stakes Exams Was a Mistake
http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/linking-graduation-to-high-stakes-testing-was-a-mistake/?

Worth Reading Is the U.S. Education and Testing System Producing a Society of Smart Fools
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-the-u-s-education-system-producing-a-society-of-ldquo-smart-fools-rdquo/?WT.mc_id=SA_FB_MB_NEWS

Worth Reading Funder Backed Project Explores Alternatives to Standardized Tests
https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2017/6/1/self-assessment-personalized-learning-grants

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

FairTest Testing Resistance & Reform News: May 24 - 30, 2017

FairTest Testing Resistance & Reform News: May 24 - 30, 2017

Bob Schaeffer

Across the country, the academic year is winding down. Many school districts have already closed for the summer. Yet, testing controversies remain as intense as ever with advocates for fewer standardized exams and lower stakes winning more victories.  Remember that assessment reform allies can sign up to receive these free weekly news updates by clicking on:

   http://fairtest.org/weekly-news-signup

California State Seeks Non-Test Tool to Assess Alternative Schools
https://edsource.org/2017/state-board-rethinking-how-to-measure-performance-of-alternative-schools/582594

Georgia Struggles Go Beyond Test Scores at School Serving Impoverished Kids
http://news.wabe.org/post/1-low-performing-ga-school-struggles-go-beyond-test-scores

Hawaii Teachers Say State ESEA Plan Still Too Heavily Tied to Test Scores
http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/education/essa-still-tied-to-test-scores/article_e18112c7-4e56-50f6-a745-20dd7a294d6d.html

Indiana State Will Allow Non-Test Paths to High School Graduation
http://www.batesvilleheraldtribune.com/news/local_news/indiana-eyes-more-paths-to-high-school-graduation/article_baffb076-7a54-5bb2-8f74-806bbf83d2d2.html

Maryland New Law Slashes Number of Tests Students Take
http://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2017/05/25/maryland-slashes-number-tests-students/345786001/
Maryland Testimony by FairTest in Favor of Testing Cap Legislation
http://fairtest.org/fairtest-tells-maryland-legislators-cap-test-time

Massachusetts Teachers Fight World Largest Testing Company
https://www.baystateparent.com/2017/05/25/teachers-fight-the-worlds-largest-testing-company/

Michigan More to Students Than Test Scores
http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/story/opinion/readers/2017/05/28/letter-editor-more-students-than-test-scores/351674001/

New York Standardized Testing System Leaves Some Students in the Dust
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/life/2017/05/26/standardized-tests-benefit-some-leave-others-dust/343443001/

Ohio Legislative Budget Would Allow Return of Pencil-and-Paper Testing
http://www.dispatch.com/news/20170524/ohio-schools-might-regain-paper-option-for-standardized-tests

Pennsylvania Board Passes Resolution Calling for Testing Reform
http://www.centredaily.com/news/local/education/article152268017.html

Tennessee Test Scores Won't Be Reported in Time to be Included on Report Cards
http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/35504928/update-tnready-test-scores-wont-arrive-in-time-for-report-cards

Texas Lawmakers Send Grad Test Reprieve Legislation to Governor
http://www.statesman.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/texas-lawmakers-approve-high-school-staar-reprieve-rejects-others/6kZAd3BPjlAiZD92niEONM/
Texas Court Finds Test-Based Teacher Evaluations Flawed
http://www.lcsun-news.com/story/opinion/2017/05/26/court-finds-teacher-evaluation-system-flawed/102219102/

Virginia What Happens When Students Design Their Own Assessments?
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2017/05/24/what-happens-when-students-design-their-own.html

Washington Legislators Debate Suspending Grad Testing Requirement
https://www.heraldnet.com/news/testing-rules-stymie-lawmakers/

University Admissions SAT Test Preppery
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/sat-test-preppery_us_5924cc28e4b0ed5eed13233d

Employment Testing Watch Out If You Are Not a White Man
https://www.revealnews.org/article/given-a-test-to-apply-for-a-job-watch-out-if-you-are-not-a-white-man/

Worth Reading Mandatory Grade Retention Programs Hurt Children
http://neatoday.org/2017/05/22/student-retention-laws/
Worth Reading Programs Try to "De-Stress" High-Stakes Testing
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2017/05/24/teaching-students-to-de-stress-over-testing.html

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

Unfortunate goal of school choice movement - Pastors for Texas Children

Unfortunate goal of school choice movement - Pastors for Texas Children

Many years ago, Jerry Falwell articulated the goal of the school choice movement well when he said, “I hope I live to see the day when, as in the early days of our country, we won’t have any public schools. The churches will have taken them over again and Christians will be running them. What a happy day that will be!”

Since the beginning of the religious right movement with Falwell, Phyllis Schlafly, Pat Robertson and others, the aim has been to destroy public education in America. Today they are closer than ever to achieving their goal because it is now being promoted by the president, his education secretary Betsy DeVos and Republican leaders in Texas government including the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, agriculture commissioner and land commissioner.

This is what you have elected in Texas, my friends, by choosing party over sanity.

Vouchers, school choice, education savings accounts — they are all code words intended to mask the real aim of this movement: destroy public education in America and turn all schools into institutions of religious indoctrination.

Now you may say, “Well, David, you are being an alarmist. It would never go that far. Why not try it in Texas?”

Pastors for Texas Children, on whose board I serve, will host an information session at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 9, at Southland Baptist Church. Speakers will include Veribest Superintendent Bobby Fryar and Barry Haenisch, executive director of the Texas Association of Community Schools. The purpose is to answer that very question for you.

But let me do my best to answer it here. I live in the Wall ISD. If 20 students get $5,000 apiece to leave the public school to attend a private school, Wall ISD will lose close to $130,000 that can’t be replaced. That money is just lost. No teacher can be fired, no bus route stopped, no money on utilities saved — they just lose the money.

So let me speak bluntly to my friends in the Wall ISD (and you can apply this to any ISD in our area) — when you keep electing right-wing, religious right Republicans at the state and national level, you are voting to close our schools. Please figure that out before it’s too late.

Notice I didn’t say all Republicans. State Rep. Drew Darby is a Republican who opposes vouchers. No, I said “right-wing, religious right” Republicans such as Dan Patrick, Ken Paxton, Ted Cruz, Sid Miller (yes, we have a Texas agriculture commissioner who is trying to destroy our rural communities — he sponsored the voucher bill when in the Texas House). Please take the time to learn where different Republicans stand on our children’s education.

Now let me warn you about something else. Since 2008, the state has reduced spending on education by $339 per student and reduced the state’s share of spending on public education from 44.9 percent to 38.4 percent. They keep pushing the burden onto local taxpayers while bragging they are cutting taxes. (They do this to our counties as well).

Public education already is underfunded by the state; if vouchers pass we will be using tax dollars to support both public and private schools, which will harm our public schools even more.

David R. Currie, Ph.D., serves on the board of Pastors for Texas Children and is the chairman of the Tom Green County Democratic Party.

http://pastorsfortexaschildren.com/news-articles-information/unfortunate-goal-of-school-choice-movement

FairTest Testing Resistance & Reform News: March 8 - 14, 2017

FairTest Testing Resistance & Reform News: March 8 - 14, 2017

In state after state -- and even in Washington DC -- lawmakers are responding to grassroots' concerns by beginning to rein in standardized exam overuses and misuses. There's still a long way to go to win comprehensive assessment reform but there is concrete evidence of real progress. Check out FairTest's new test opt-out resources to see how you can add to the pressure during this year's testing season.  

National ESSA Test Accountability Rules Swept Aside by Congress
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/09/us/every-student-succeeds-act-essa-congress.html
National ESSA Implementation is Now a Big, Big Mess
http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2017/03/essa-big-mess.html
National Did Sec. DeVos Ask States to Ignore Stakeholder Participation for ESSA Plans
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/03/14/did-betsy-devos-just-ask-states-to-ignore-part-of-federal-education-law

National FairTest Opt-Out Fact Sheets Revised to Reflect ESSA Rule Repeal as Testing Season Begins
http://www.fairtest.org/why-you-can-boycott-testing-without-fear
http://www.fairtest.org/get-involved/opting-out
http://www.fairtest.org/federal-law-and-regulations-opting-out-under-essa

Multiple States "A to F" School Rankings Draw Local Pushback
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2017/03/08/a-f-school-rankings-draw-local-pushback.html

Arkansas Legislator Questions State Funding of ACT Testing
http://www.arkansasmatters.com/news/local-news/act-aspire-test-questioned-by-ar-lawmaker/668282055
Arkansas School Grades Track Poverty
http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2017/mar/12/poverty-race-and-arkansas-school-grades/?opinion

California Smarter Balanced, ACT and SAT Fight Over State Testing Control
https://edsource.org/2017/turf-battle-developing-over-who-can-test-californias-11th-graders/578262
California New School Accountability Dashboard
http://www.montereyherald.com/opinion/20170310/nancy-kotowski-californias-new-school-accountability-dashboard

Colorado School Offers Incentives to Entice Kids to Take Tests
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/03/08/school-offers-incentives-to-get-kids-to-take-common-core-standardized-test/

Florida Senators Tout Benefits of Cutting State Exams
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/school-zone/os-testing-senators-proposal-exams-montford-lee-20170308-story.html
Florida Bill Would Eliminate Some Testing Requirements
http://extracredit.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2017/03/09/bill-would-end-these-high-school-end-of-course-exams/

Georgia School Leaders Seek Options on Testing Mandates
http://www.northfulton.com/stories/School-leaders-ask-foroptions-on-testing-mandates,102728
Georgia Bill Seeks Escape Hatch From State Tests
http://www.ajc.com/news/local-education/bill-seeks-escape-hatch-from-state-tests-using-wouldn-ruin-kids/UQP25pOkDCzw64nPvMBrVL/

Illinois New School Evaluation Plan Adds a Few Non-Test Factors
https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/what-you-need-to-know-about-illinois-replacement-for-no-child-left-behind-law/7e4120b6-83d2-4129-86dd-229959491a27

Indiana State Test is Neither Valid Nor Reliable
http://www.journalgazette.net/opinion/columns/ISTEP-odyssey-underscores-unreliability-18174859

Maine City Leads Way in Opt-Out Push
http://www.sunjournal.com/news/maine/0001/11/30/lewiston-leads-way-push-opt-out-school-testing/2091364

Massachusetts Less Testing More Learning Group Seeks Opt-Out Policy Clarification
http://www.citizensforpublicschools.org/less-testing-more-learning-ma-campaign/letter-to-commissioner-chester-re-opt-out-clarification/
Massachusetts Educators, Legislators Pushes for Alternative Assessment Measures
http://www.thesomervilletimes.com/archives/74367

Michigan Plans for A to F School Grades Dropped
http://www.freep.com/story/news/education/2017/03/13/schools-grades-state-superintendent/99121472/
Michigan Debate Persists About Best Way to Assess Schools
http://www.petoskeynews.com/news/state-region/debates-persist-on-best-way-to-assess-schools/article_a7db1ab3-ab33-5aff-be76-e803a61c5a3c.html

New Jersey Resist Administrators Pressure to Take PARCC
http://elfasd.blogspot.com/2017/03/parcc-season-brings-desperate-actions.html
New Jersey Why Is State Requiring Third Graders to Take Test on Computers
https://dianeravitch.net/2017/03/13/new-jersey-parent-why-is-the-state-requiring-third-grade-students-to-take-the-parcc-test-on-a-computer/

New York Activists Promote Sample Test Refusal Letter
http://www.nysape.org/2016-2017-nys-refusal-letter.html
New York Opt-Out to Stop High-Stakes Testing
http://www.fltimes.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/letter-nclb-led-to-high-stakes-testing-that-has-eroded/article_d164e872-033c-11e7-b9b0-9ba6a17824ff.html
New York Minor Test Changes Won't Change Exam School Diversity
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/de-blasio-shsat-test-timid-article-1.2992165

Ohio Under Pressure State Agrees to Review Testing
http://www.dispatch.com/news/20170313/complaints-get-state-to-review-amount-of-testing
Ohio Principals Question High-Stakes Testing
http://thecourier.com/local-news/2017/03/13/fhs-principal-questions-high-stakes-testing/

Pennsylvania Senator Says Standardized Tests Aren't Worth the Hefty Cost
http://abc27.com/2017/03/07/standardized-tests-arent-worth-the-hefty-cost-state-senator-says/

Texas Model Assessment Reform Legislative Advocacy Resources
http://www.tamsatx.org/legislative-efforts.html

Utah Suspension of School Grading Approved by House
http://www.sltrib.com/news/5027812-155/house-approves-revised-system-with-a

Washington State House of Representatives Votes to Scrap Graduation Test Requirements
http://www.dailyrecordnews.com/news/state-house-passes-bill-removing-graduation-test-requirements/article_73cb8a75-03c5-521f-bfbb-5f89cca4eea4.html

West Virginia State Board Scraps A-to-F School Grading System
http://www.theintelligencer.net/news/top-headlines/2017/03/west-virginia-scraps-a-f-grading-system-for-schools/

University Admission Harvard Law Dropping LSAT Could Lead to Sweeping Admission Changes
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/harvard-law-school-dropping-lsat-could-lead-sweeping-changes-n731876
University Admission Worcester State Goes Test Optional
http://www.worcester.edu/test-optional/
University Admissions FairTest Updates List of 925+ ACT/SAT Colleges and Universities
http://fairtest.org/university/optional

Worth Reading Eight Reasons to Opt Out
http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2017/03/reasons-to-opt-out.html

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

Testing Resistance & Reform News: February 8 - 14, 2017 FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing

Testing Resistance & Reform News: February 8 - 14, 2017

FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing

Bob Schaeffer

The pace of both testing resistance and assessment reform is definitely quickening as the late winter/early spring 2017 standardized exam season draws nearer. Great to see so many policy makers questioning the fundamental role and value of current volumes of testing and the stakes attached to them.

National "A to F" School Grading Scales Distort Public Perception of Schools
http://edwp.educ.msu.edu/green-and-write/2017/distortion-in-a-f-accountability-scales/

Alabama Feds Question Whether ACT Test Is Aligned With State's Standards
http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/02/federal_officials_question_use.html

Alaska District Drops Graduation Testing Requirement
http://www.newsminer.com/news/education/school-district-drops-test-requirement-for-graduation/article_298052ac-eddb-11e6-a90d-d7f516c06ad3.html

Florida Model Grassroots Opt-Out Guides Published
https://theoptoutfloridanetwork.wordpress.com/2017/02/09/2016-2017-opt-out-guides-are-here/
Florida Lawmakers Question Value of High-Stakes Testing
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-legislature-school-accountability-20170208-story.html
Florida Districts Move to Reduce Local Testing Mandates
http://www.bradenton.com/news/local/education/article132003914.html

Idaho Seniors Will No Longer Have to Pass Test to Graduate
http://www.localnews8.com/news/high-school-seniors-will-not-have-to-pass-isat-to-graduate/323529210

Indiana New Name But Largely Same Old Failed Test
http://www.dailyjournal.net/2017/02/10/new_classroom_testing_proposal_considered_by_lawmakers/

Kentucky Do State Assessments Really Do What They Say They Do?
http://www.bipps.org/kentuckys-kprep-school-assessments-supposed/

Louisiana Major Debate About How Often Students Should Be Testing
http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/education/article_10a12886-ee19-11e6-a35e-1b88d7545929.html

Maine Educators Look Beyond Testing to Measure Student Success
https://bangordailynews.com/2017/02/13/news/state/maine-educators-look-beyond-testing-to-measure-student-success/

Michigan Superintendent Says Test Scores Measure Poverty, Not Academic Performance
http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2017/02/saginaw_superintendent_says_st.html

New York State to Review Teacher Certification Exams
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alan-singer/new-york-state-to-review_b_14653764.html

North Carolina Promise to Cut Standardized Exams Will Be Put to the Test
https://robesonian.com/opinion/96040/promise-will-be-put-to-test

Ohio Supers Criticize State ESSA Plan That Does Not Cut Testing
https://fairborndailyherald.com/news/14839/superintendents-not-happy-with-state-education-draft

Oklahoma Legislators Seek Permanent Exemptions From Third Grade Promotion Test Law
http://newsok.com/article/5537823

Texas State's Changing Testing Plans Confuse Teachers, Students
http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2017/02/08/texas-keeps-changing-staar-test-plans-leaving-teachers-kids-unprepared
Texas A to F Ratings Spur Calls for School Assessment Change
https://communityimpact.com/houston/the-woodlands/education/2017/02/10/f-ratings-spur-call-system-change/
Texas Houston Drops Stakes for Some Standardized Tests
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2017/02/13/187653/hisd-drops-some-stakes-for-state-standardized-tests-for-certain-grades/

Utah School Grading System Reflects State's Failure Not Public Education
http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/4909415-155/op-ed-school-grading-system-is-a

West Virginia Legislators Question Governor's ACT Testing Proposal
http://www.theintermountain.com/news/local-news/2017/02/w-va-educators-consider-gov-jim-justices-act-proposal/

University Admission Who Is Overseeing the SAT?
http://news.trust.org/item/20170214144603-ssrcq

Worth Reading Public Education Should Prioritize Quality Not Test Competition
http://www.collegiatetimes.com/opinion/public-education-should-prioritize-quality-not-competition/article_d963118c-ee62-11e6-b62b-c769950957ae.html

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

FairTest Testing Resistance & Reform News: February 1 - 7, 2017

FairTest Testing Resistance & Reform News: February 1 - 7, 2017

Check out all the assessment reform activity in state legislatures as national polling shows strong public support for reducing testing overkill

National Poll Data Show Most Americans Do Not Think Standardized Tests Are Good Measure of Students or Schools

http://www.publicschooloptions.org/splash.html

   #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

http://www.publicschooloptions.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/National-PSO-11-28-16-Public-Update.pdf   #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Colorado Educator Ratings Don't Account for Student Poverty

http://gazette.com/colorado-educator-evaluations-do-not-account-for-disadvantaged-school-populations/article/1596168   #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Connecticut Failed Smarter Balanced Common Core Tests Hurt Students and Schools

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Wendy-Lecker-Failed-common-core-tests-punish-10906971.php   #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Florida Governor Seeks Repeal of Test-Based Teacher Bonus Program

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/education/os-best-brightest-teacher-bonuses-scott-20170131-story.html   #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Florida Challenge to Third Grade Retention Law Heads Back to Court

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/challenge-of-floridas-third-grade-retention-law-heads-back-to-court/2312016   #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Florida New Certification Test by Pearson Flunks Many Qualified Teachers

http://www.abcactionnews.com/longform/teachers-failing-state-certification-test-at-alarming-rates   #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Louisiana State Ed Super Shows New Flexibility About Tests' Role in School Grades

http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2017/02/louisiana_report_card.html   #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Massachusetts New Opt-Out Legislative Proposal

http://www.citizensforpublicschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/MCAS-opt-out-bill.pdf   #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Massachusetts Public Meeting on New Accountability Standards Under ESSA

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/02/grading_the_schools_new_standa.html   #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Michigan Legislature Moves Toward Repealing "Failing" Schools Law

http://michiganradio.org/post/michigan-lawmakers-move-forward-repealing-failing-schools-law   #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

New Mexico Ed Secretary Wants to Reduce Test Weight in Teacher Evaluation

http://nmpolitics.net/index/2017/01/skandera-wants-to-reduce-weight-of-test-scores-on-teacher-evals/   #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

New Mexico Legislation Calls for Exploring ESSA Alternative Assessment Grant Application

https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/17%20Regular/memorials/senate/SJM001.html   #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

New York Why You Should Continue to Opt Out in 2017 Fact Sheet

http://www.nysape.org/2017-opt-out-fact-sheet.html   #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Ohio Concerns About Ever-Changing Graduation Testing Requirements

http://www.chillicothegazette.com/story/news/local/2017/02/05/new-grad-rules-raising-local-concerns-ross-county-schools-education/97438958/   #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Oklahoma Lawmaker Targets Third Grade Reading Promotion Test

http://kfor.com/2017/02/02/oklahoma-lawmaker-proposes-changes-to-reading-sufficiency-act/   #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Pennsylvania Bill Would Ease Grad Test Requirement for Vocational and Career Ed Students

http://www.readingeagle.com/ap/article/house-bill-would-ease-graduation-criteria-for-vocational-students   #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

South Carolina ESSA Town Hall Supports Shift Away From High-Stakes Testing

http://www.wjcl.com/article/town-hall-to-improve-education-in-beaufort-county/8684646   #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Texas "Teaching Over Testing" Act Filed to Reduce Exam Volume and Stakes

http://www.kvue.com/news/education/hb1333-standardized-testing-reform-bill-filed/395524912   #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

West Virginia New Governor Seeks Different Course for Testing, Accountability

http://www.wvgazettemail.com/news-education/20170204/justice-pursuing-a-different-course-in-education   #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Wisconsin State Test Scores Do Not Measure School Success

http://www.lakelandtimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=9&SubSectionID=9&ArticleID=33813   #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

University Admission ACT/SAT Tests Outdated and Inaccurate

http://www.sonomastatestar.com/opinion/2017/2/2/standardized-testing-outdated-and-inaccurate   #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

International Israeli University Will Base Admission on Course Grades Rather than Test Scores

http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/business/1.769028   #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Is Standardized Testing a Help or a Hindrance

http://www.postbulletin.com/life/lifestyles/marcus-yao-is-standardized-testing-a-help-or-a-hindrance/article_ef439a68-7128-51b8-b964-c7ebca0bbf33.html   #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

School Climate Really Does Affect Academic Success

https://thejournal.com/articles/2017/02/06/school-climate-really-does-affect-academics.aspx   #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

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

Our Mesa Comunitaria – One Year Later

Our Mesa Comunitaria – One Year Later

by Aurelio Montemayor & Michael Seifert -  August 2016

A year ago, the Rio Grande Equal Voice Network, with tremendous support from IDRA, convened a

conference that we called, “Una Mesa Comunitaria.” Community leaders, school superintendents,

college and university leaders and others gathered to consider possible, collaborative actions in

response to drastic changes in Texas’ education policies.

After the Texas legislature passed an education reform bill, members of the Rio Grande Valley (RGV)

Equal Voice Network’s Education Working group became concerned that entire cohorts of students

were being “tracked” (excluded from the possibility of university) unbeknownst to their parents.

The working group organized a survey as a way of alerting families to the dangers in the bill. In the

spring of 2015, our network of eight community-based organizations and the Comunitario groups

conducted a survey to find out if what they suspected was happening with the new graduation

requirements was indeed true.

Participants polled more than 1,600 families across three counties and over 10 school districts. The

results were clear, and alarming. Very few of the parents who were questioned knew about the new

requirements, and most did not know if their children who were in secondary schools were on a

college track. Some families reported having a difficult time getting information from schools, and

others found out their children were not considered “college material” – those students were not

enrolled in such college-required courses as Algebra II.

IDRA helped the Education Working Group tally the data and publish the results. The group decided

to follow up on a previous Mesa Comunitaria held in McAllen in 2013 by offering a second Mesa

Comunitaria, this time in Weslaco in August of 2015.

See complete bilingual article link below

http://idra.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/MesaReport2016.pdf