Saturday, November 25, 2017

FairTest Testing in US November 24


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National States Can Soon Pursue "Innovative Assessment" Pilot Program Under NCLB
http://hechingerreport.org/states-will-soon-free-transform-standardized-testing-wont/
National Many States Set Ridiculously Unachievable Goals Under ESSA
https://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2017-11-17/the-every-student-succeeds-acts-hollow-educational-ambition

Florida 
Schools Seeks Graduation Test Waiver for Students with Classes Disrupted by Hurricane
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/high_school_and_beyond/2017/11/miami_superintendent_seeks_test_waiver_for_puerto_rico_students.html

Hawaii 
Many Flaws in Current State Testing
http://www.civilbeat.org/2017/11/making-hawaii-student-testing-more-meaningful/

Illinois 
High School "Proficiency" Bar Set Higher Than "College Readiness"
https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2017/11/17/to-be-proficient-in-illinois-you-have.html

Maryland 
State Data Now Includes Data From School Climate Ratings
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/how-you-rate-your-school-becomes-important-under-new-law/2017/11/19/8fa0187a-cb24-11e7-8321-481fd63f174d_story.html

Massachusetts Schools Preparing Kids for Tests, Not Life
https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/letters/2017/11/15/preparing-kids-for-test-but-not-for-life/6q2JQzpP5fm5E6ARwWtLwJ/story.html
Massachusetts Tougher Tests Don't Improve Teacher Quality
http://www.publicnewsservice.org/2017-11-20/education/research-tougher-tests-dont-improve-teaching-quality/a60332-1

Mississippi 
Teacher Shortage Spurs Licensing Test Flexibility
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2017/11/20/mississippi-teacher-shortage-license/873659001/

Missouri We've Made Schools Into a Contest for Well-Trained Test Takers
http://www.emissourian.com/we-ve-made-education-a-wrestling-match/article_d5db3a3a-865b-520a-a037-98b8f7dd1b88.html
Missouri School Report Cards Hard to Analyze Amidst Test Score Reporting Errors
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/missouri/articles/2017-11-15/annual-missouri-report-cards-prove-difficult-to-analyze

New York 
State Cuts Testing Days in Attempt to Discourage Opt Outs
http://www.orchardparkbee.com/news/2017-11-16/Local_News/Changes_on_the_way_for_standardized_tests.html

Ohio 
"Moving Goal Posts," Poor Measures Make State Report Cards "Meaningless"
http://ysnews.com/news/2017/11/state-report-card-schools-react-to-assessment

Pennsylvania 
Graduation Test Requirement Postponed Again
https://whyy.org/articles/push-pa-graduation-standard-delayed/

South Carolina 
96% of Schools Experienced Technical Glitches with Online Testing
http://www.wcnc.com/news/education/report-96-percent-of-sc-schools-impacted-by-act-glitches/492755570

Tennessee
 Fired Testing Vendor Sues for Multi-Million Contract Termination Payout
http://www.wsmv.com/story/36855620/tn-dept-of-education-hit-with-lawsuit-from-test-maker
Tennessee Students, Parents, Educators Rally Against Testing Company Monopoly
http://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/2017/11/17/students-parents-and-knox-county-mayor-rally-against-act-testing-monopoly/875546001/

Texas Commissioner Threatens Fed Funding Loss If Tests Cancelled Due to Hurricane Impacts
http://www.expressnews.com/news/education/article/Canceling-STAAR-tests-could-wipe-out-federal-12367334.php

Virginia 
Test Scores Will Play Smaller Role in School Accreditation
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/test-scores-to-play-smaller-role-in-virginia-school-accreditation/2017/11/16/cb3963c6-cb08-11e7-aa96-54417592cf72_story.html

Wisconsin 
Unusual Test Score Fluctuations Confuse School Report Cards
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2017/11/20/mississippi-teacher-shortage-license/873659001/

University Admissions
 ACT Cancels Test Scores After Administering Wrong Exam
http://www.wbir.com/article/news/local/education/bearden-hs-students-outraged-after-act-testing-error-invalidates-scores/51-492044555

International
 Canadian Teachers Federation Calls Government-Mandated Tests Obstacle to Quality Education
http://www.nugget.ca/2017/11/17/teachers-federation-calls-tests-obstacles-to-quality-education

Worth Reading Data, Numbers and Audiences
http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2017/11/data-and-numbers-and-audiences.html
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Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing
office-   (239) 395-6773   fax-  (239) 395-6779
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