Links on Testing FairTest January 2017

Links on Testing  FairTest  January 2017

A reporter, who called FairTest today for a comment on a breaking story, said it well, "Every time I read your news clip compilations, I'm shocked at how much testing reform activity is going on across the country." We hope these weekly summaries are just as helpful in making your work more productive. Please send us links to articles and resources from your local area that merit broader attention.

National How Testing Policies Have to Change in U.S. Public Schools

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/01/06/how-testing-practices-have-to-change-in-u-s-public-schools/ 

    
Multiple States Changes to Test-Based Teacher Evaluations Plans Under Consideration
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/teacherbeat/2017/01/states_mull_changes_to_evaluations.html

    

Multiple States Using Local Flexibility to Translate ESSA Blueprint to K-12 Reality
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2017/01/04/tricky-balance-in-shifting-from-essa-blueprint.html

    

California State Continues Pushback Against Federal Testing Rules
https://edsource.org/2017/u-s-to-make-final-decision-on-california-science-testing-waiver-very-shortly/574962

    

California Time to Leave Behind NCLB's Catch-22 on Calculating English Learners' Progress
https://edsource.org/2017/ending-the-no-child-left-behind-catch-22-on-english-learner-progress/574936

    

Colorado State Seeks Shorter Test With Faster Results
http://www.cortezjournal.com/article/20170106/NEWS01/170109913/Cortez-Mancos-students-could-benefit-from-new-state-test

    

Connecticut Mastery Exam Task Force Report Expected Soon
http://jonathanpelto.com/2017/01/05/mastery-exam-task-force-report-due-soon-findings-predetermined-john-bestor/

    

Florida Legislators Look for Ways to Streamline School Testing

http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/testing/senate-looking-for-ways-to-streamline-florida-school-testing/2308745     

Florida Who Will Be Grading Our Kids Tests?
http://jaxkidsmatter.blogspot.com/2017/01/who-will-be-grading-our-kids-tests.html    

Florida State's Measure of Teacher Performance Is Unfair
http://www.news-press.com/story/opinion/2017/01/05/how-state-measures-teachers-performance-unfair/96155736/  

Indiana Where Toxins Meet Testing
https://sbloom2.wordpress.com/2017/01/03/where-toxins-meet-testing/    

Indiana High-Stakes Testing Contributes to School-to-Prison Pipeline
http://www.educationworld.com/a_news/state-panelists-partly-blame-culture-high-stakes-testing-school-prison-pipeline-1109046866    

Maryland ESSA Listening Tour Underway
http://www.wmdt.com/news/maryland/md-launches-every-student-succeeds-act-listening-tour/249245820

New Mexico Bill Would Downplay Role of Test Scores in School Grades
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/education/morales-files-bill-to-rework-state-s-school-grading-formula/article_fcb0157a-3f7a-5efa-9049-b57cd19aa308.html

    

New York  Teachers No Longer Gagged From Discussing Test Questions
http://www.educationviews.org/nys-lifts-ban-teachers-talking-test-questions/

    

North Carolina Let's Change How We Talk About "Achievement"
http://www.citizen-times.com/story/opinion/2017/01/09/guest-columnist-change-talk-achievement/96335960/

    

Ohio Graduation Rate Could Plummet Under New Testing Requirements
http://www.bucyrustelegraphforum.com/story/news/local/2017/01/08/under-new-guidelines-ohio-graduation-rates-could-plummet/96254214/

Texas Educators Criticize Provisional "A to F" School Grades
http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/fort-worth/article124530389.html

    

Texas I Can't Answer Questions on the State Test About My Own Poems
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/standardized-tests-are-so-bad-i-cant-answer-these_us_586d5517e4b0c3539e80c341

    

Wyoming Graduation Requirements Up for Review
http://wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/wyoming-graduation-requirements-review

    

International Are PISA Test Results Rigged to Benefit Asian Nations?
http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2017/01/04/are-the-pisa-education-results-rigged/#37fc711046e0

    

Worth Reading Stop Betsy DeVos Tool Kit
http://networkforpubliceducation.org/2016/12/join-us-in-stopping-the-confirmation-of-devos-npe-toolkit 

    

Worth Reading Test-Taking Accommodations May Fall Short for Students with ADHD
http://www.additudemag.com/adhdblogs/19/12311.html

    

Worth Reading Grading and Ranking Does Not Improve Educational Quality
http://nepc.colorado.edu/blog/dont-count

    

Worth Reading How "Design Thinking" Became a Buzzword
https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2017/01/how-design-thinking-became-a-buzzword-at-school/512150/