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