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