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

FairTest Testing Resistance & Reform News: January 25 - 31, 2017

Testing Resistance & Reform News: January 25 - 31, 2017

Bob Schaeffer

With the 2017 K-12 school testing season soon to in some jurisdictions, FairTest has released several new and updated fact sheets to help assessment reform activists organize resistance to standardized exam overuse and misuse. At the same time, many state legislatures are considering proposals to reduce testing overkill. 

National Why You Can Boycott Testing Without Fear of Federal Penalties for Your School
http://fairtest.org/why-you-can-boycott-testing-without-fear
National Just Say "No" to Standardized Tests by Opting Out
http://www.fairtest.org/get-involved/opting-out

Multiple States Educators, Lawmakers Divided Over Graduation Tests
https://www.districtadministration.com/article/educators-lawmakers-divided-over-graduation-tests
Multiple States Exit Exam Update Shows States That Recently Eliminated Diploma Tests
http://www.fairtest.org/graduation-test-update-states-recently-eliminated

Alabama Unfair Testing Skews "Failing" Schools Label
http://www.selmatimesjournal.com/2017/01/28/unfair-testing-skews-failing-schools-label/

California State Will Administer Alternative Science Assessment Despite Federal Opposition
https://edsource.org/2017/californias-new-science-tests-planned-despite-u-s-ruling/576229

Colorado High Test Opt-Out Rate Disrupts State School Ratings
http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/optouts-sink-school-ratings

Delaware Legislators Eye New Test Opt-Out Bill
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jan/30/lawmakers-again-eye-school-testing-opt-out-bill/

Florida New Bill Would Create Alternatives to High-Stakes Tests
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/florida-house-member-wants-to-offer-alternatives-to-high-stakes-high/2310646
Florida Key State Senator Submits Plan Offering Graduation Pathways for Students Failing Exit Exam
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/key-state-senator-files-bill-to-offer-alternative-pathways-to-high-school/2311397

Louisiana Testing Exemption Sought for Flood-Ravaged Schools
http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/education/article_e046c4b2-e29b-11e6-a175-ef6797ed6106.html

Massachusetts Bill Would Impose Three-Year Exam Moratorium, End Test-Based Teacher Evaluation
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/2017/01/bill_would_put_end_to_standardized_testing
Massachusetts State Test Fails in City Schools
http://www.bostonherald.com/opinion/op_ed/2017/01/maguire_mcas_test_flunks_at_city_schools
Massachusetts Parents Should Say "No" to State Tests
http://www.milforddailynews.com/opinion/20170128/skelton-parents-should-say-no-to-state-tests

New Jersey Demographic Factors Strongly Predict Test Results
http://www.shu.edu/education/news/no-test-required-demographic-factors-predict-common-core-proficiency.cfm

New Mexico Bill Would Limit Number of School Days Devoted to Standardized Testing
http://krqe.com/2017/01/26/bill-would-limit-school-districts-to-5-state-testing-days-per-year/

New York Students Not Scores Workshop on Threats to Public Education
http://www.newsday.com/long-island/education/some-long-island-educators-warn-of-threats-to-public-education-1.13030287
New York Test Prep Firms Scrambling to Address Changes in NYC Selective High School Exam
http://www.amny.com/opinion/columnists/mark-chiusano/the-test-preparation-industry-is-scrambling-to-adapt-to-the-new-specialized-high-school-admissions-test-1.13011116

Oregon Analysis of State's Testing "Audit"
http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2017/01/or-protecting-tests.html

Texas Test-Based School Grades Make Low-Income Schools Look Worse
http://www.mystatesman.com/news/texas-grades-make-low-income-schools-look-worse-analysis-shows/9zayC4BtoLFmn3vo12JF8J/
Texas Hundreds of Districts Seek Repeal of "A to F" School Grading Scheme
http://www.wfaa.com/news/education/tasa-455-texas-school-districts-oppose-a-f-rating-system/393917760

Virginia Proposal Would Allow PSAT Scores to Substitute for State Exams
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/news/proposal-advances-to-allow-high-psat-scores-as-substitute-for/article_f77de109-275a-56c1-9439-abe6da30cfbf.html

Worth Reading Focusing State Accountability Systems on High Achievers May Backfire
http://nepc.colorado.edu/newsletter/2017/01/focusing-state

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