FairTest Testing Resistance & Reform News: August 23 - 29, 2017

FairTest Testing Resistance & Reform News: August 23 - 29, 2017

Bob Schaeffer

You can tell that a new school year is beginning across the U.S. by the surge in testing-related coverage -- this week's clips include news from 20 states as well as national overviews. FairTest is especially pleased that so many stories and columns include strong criticisms of standardized exam misuse and overuse, reflecting a growing consensus for assessment reform that is also revealed in recent public opinion polls.

National Many States Begin Shedding K-12 Exam Mandates

https://www.districtadministration.com/article/states-begin-shedding-standardized-tests-k12  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

National New Poll Finds Little Public Support for Standardized Testing

http://pdkpoll.org/results#measuring-school-quality  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Alabama State Board Member Wants to Institutionalize Special Ed. Students to Boost Average Test Scores

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/08/alabama-state-school-board-member-wants-to-institutionalize-special-needs-students-to-boost-test-scores/  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Arizona School Grades Delayed to Massage Ranking Formula

http://tucson.com/news/local/state-issued-letter-grades-for-arizona-schools-will-likely-be/article_1548cf97-1e35-58f3-b8d9-9656d6bea4a5.html  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

California State Board Dismisses Complaints From Test-and-Punish Advocates

https://edsource.org/2017/national-group-sharply-criticizes-states-plan-for-every-student-succeeds-act/586312  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

California Test Scores Delayed Indefinitely Due to "Data Issues"

http://www.latimes.com/local/education/la-essential-education-updates-southern-california-s-standardized-test-score-1503703716-htmlstory.html  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

California Parents Prep Kids for Kindergarten Entrance Tests

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/toddler-test-prep-1032351  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Colorado State Asks Feds for More Time to Integrate Opt-Out Policy Into ESSA Plan

https://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/co/2017/08/25/colorado-tells-feds-it-needs-more-time-to-rethink-opt-out-policy/  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Florida Governor Candidate Says Testing Cripples Education

http://www.newsherald.com/news/20170822/graham-education-her-primary-commitment  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Idaho New Graduation Requirements Stir Debate Over Tests' Value

https://www.idahoednews.org/news/new-graduation-requirements-stir-debate-value-test-scores/  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Indiana Superintendent of Education Says, "We Assess Kids to Death"

http://www.thebraziltimes.com/story/2438328.html  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Maryland School Test Scores Can be Highly Misleading

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/readersrespond/bs-ed-rr-parcc-scores-20170825-story.html  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Maryland The Limits of Standardized Testing

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/readersrespond/bs-ed-rr-parcc-20170824-story.html  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Maryland State Board of Education Debates School Rating System

http://www.wbaltv.com/article/maryland-tweaks-star-rating-system-for-schools/12049164  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Massachusetts Moving Beyond MCAS: Current School Quality Measures Are Incomplete, Inaccurate

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/education/moving-beyond-mcas/  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Minnesota Aggregated Test Scores Mislead on School Performance

http://www.sctimes.com/story/opinion/2017/08/27/aggregated-test-scores-mislead-school-performance/593807001/  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

New Jersey Replacing High-Stakes Testing with Broader Education?

http://www.app.com/story/opinion/columnists/2017/08/25/njea-marie-blistan-new-president/104942726/  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

New Mexico Do School Grades Show Real Academic Performance or "Noise"?

http://www.ladailypost.com/content/wadt-guide-school-grades-real-or-noise  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

New Mexico Time to Dump PARCC Tests?

http://www.publicnewsservice.org/2017-08-24/education/time-to-dump-new-mexico-student-parcc-tests/a59135-1  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

New York Teachers Call Test Scores "Virtually Meaningless"

http://www.publicnewsservice.org/2017-08-23/education/ny-teachers-call-latest-test-scores-meaningless/a59115-1  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

New York 225,000 Students Opted Out of State Tests in 2017

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

North Carolina The Failure of Using Business-Model Practices Like VAM in Education

https://www.ednc.org/2017/08/09/cost-business-education-world/  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Ohio Test Scores Don't Tell Us Anything We Did Not Already Know

http://www.dailycall.com/opinion/columns/27322/the-great-debate-rages-on  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Pennsylvania Spending Too Much Time on Testing and Not Getting Enough Back

http://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/opinion/2017/08/24/editorial-costs-standardized-testing-continue-grow/593225001/  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Tennessee Parents Should Opt Out of Standardized Testing Madness

http://www.commercialappeal.com/story/opinion/contributors/2017/08/24/parents-should-opt-out-standardized-testing-madness/594774001/  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Tennessee Weeks Into New School Year, Last Spring's Test Scores Still Not Available

http://wjhl.com/2017/08/25/weeks-into-new-school-year-and-some-tn-ready-official-test-scores-are-still-not-available/  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Virginia Principal and Teachers Fired at School Where Staff Cheated on Exams

http://www.richmond.com/news/local/central-virginia/tri-cities/petersburg/teachers-fired-principal-out-at-petersburg-school-where-staff-helped/article_a2dd285c-5191-5e61-bdb3-0a11cf7ddd92.html  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Washington ESSA Plan Moves Beyond No Child Left Behind

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/before-and-after-washingtons-plan-for-the-every-student-succeeds-act/  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

West Virginia More Changes to Draft ESSA Plan

http://www.wvgazettemail.com/news-education/20170826/wvs-essa-plan-seeing-further-changes-praise-criticism  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

International Principals in India Say Students Gain Nothing From Competency Tests

http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/mumbai-principals-say-students-gain-nothing-from-competency-tests/story-d3L20MRhxEVy5C5oVEYWzK.html  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

University University Bloomfield College Now Has Test-Optional Admissions Policy

http://www.northjersey.com/story/news/essex/bloomfield/2017/08/28/bloomfield-college-now-has-test-optional-policy/609846001/  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

University California State System Eliminates Placement-Test Based Remedial Courses

http://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/CSU-finally-ends-remedial-classes-that-delay-11946283.php  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Worth Reading New Book "Beyond Test Scores: A Better Way to Measure School Quality"

http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674976399  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Worth Reading Closing Schools with Low Scores Does Not Help Most Students

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2017/08/24/closing-failing-schools-doesnt-help-most-students.html  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Worth Reading Questions Parents Should Ask Schools About Testing Their Children

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1844518558897873&set=a.137773602905719.26097.100000192405525&type=3&theater  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Support Heroes in Education Be sure to order your tickets or make your contribution for FairTest's October 26 "Heroes in Education" award reception honoring Schott Foundation head John Jackson and Mass. Teachers Association President Barbara Madeloni.  Details at: http://www.fairtest.org/fairtest-to-honor-jackson-and-madeloni  #EdBlogNet @FairTestOffice @idraedu

Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director

FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing

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