Bob Schaeffer’s Weekly Roundup of Resistance to the Billionaires’ Educational League of Charlatans & Hucksters

I’ve been remiss on not posting Bob Schaeffer’s lists. We public school teachers, parents and students should remember that not all is lost. When enough folks fight back, we will win.

Here’s this week’s list from FairTest:

With Common Core pilot-tests looming on the horizon, calls for a moratorium on the new assessments and a reduction in test volume, not another round of increases, are intensifying.

Common Core Assessments: The Next Phase of High-Stakes Testing

http://colorlines.com/archives/2014/01/a_primer_on_common_core–a_new_chapter_in_the_high-stakes_testing_era.html

 

Advocates Press Gov. Cuomo for Common Core Testing Moratorium
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20140113/NEWS/301130023/Common-Core-concerns-directed-Cuomo

 

Fact Sheet: Why a Common Core Moratorium is Necessary
http://www.fairtest.org/common-core-assessments-factsheet

 

Massive Field-Testing Makes Thousands of Children Unpaid Common Core Guinea Pigs
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/education/ct-more-testing-illinois-20140117,0,5307497,full.story

 

Maryland Schools Need $100 Million Computer Upgrades to Administer New Common Core Exams
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/education/blog/bs-md-technology-schools-20140116,0,6187986.story

Bill Seeks Suspension of 2014 Maryland State Tests
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/education/blog/bs-md-msa-bill-20140114,0,5292378.story

Montgomery Super: Common Core Test Scores Should Not be Used to Judge Teachers
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/01/16/a-real-school-reform-agenda-for-2014/

 

Virginia Republican State Legislators Join Democratic Governor and Public Majority to Support Testing Rollback
http://www.roanoke.com/news/virginia/article_e2a3a28a-7d99-11e3-8353-0019bb30f31a.html/

Suburban Richmond School Board Considers Assessment Reform Resolution
http://www.nbc12.com/story/24501112/virginia-school-board-members-called-to-support-sol-test-reform

Virginia Poll Finds Growing Voter Concern About Impact of Standardized Exam Overkill
http://www.cepi.vcu.edu/media/university-relations/cepi/pdfs/CEPI2013-14Poll-SOLandpolicyrelease-final.pdf

Florida Facing Challenge Over Student Testing
http://www.news-press.com/article/20140118/OPINION/301180011/Editorial-State-facing-challenge-over-student-testing

Super Allows Idaho Schools to Opt Out of Some Common Core Field Tests
http://www.idahopress.com/news/local/luna-agrees-to-compromise-on-common-core-testing/article_f03a68ca-7e25-11e3-bed4-0019bb2963f4.html

Louisiana Schools Need Millions More for Common Core Testing Computer Upgrades
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/01/louisiana_schools_may_need_up.html#incart_river

Philadelphia Test-Cheating Scandal May Be Nation’s Largest
http://thenotebook.org/blog/146824/more-130-philly-educators-implicated-cheating

Minnesota Kindergarten: Too Many Tests; No Time to Play
http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2014/01/15/kindergarten-teacher-too-many-tests-no-time-play

Coloradans Say “No” to High-Stakes Testing with Highway Billboard
http://susanohanian.org/show_nclb_cartoons.php?id=1000

More Parents Resist Standardized Tests
http://theworldlink.com/news/opinion/editorial/parents-resisting-standardized-tests/article_8e2281ce-81fc-11e3-9bbe-0019bb2963f4.html

New York Could Lead National Away From School Testing Fixation
http://www.wnyc.org/story/opinion-nyc-school-system-critical-tipping-point/

Former Charter School Teacher Reveals Program’s Test-Prep Fixation
http://www.schoolsmatter.info/2014/01/full-interview-with-former-charter.html

Take This Test (Please)
http://takingnote.learningmatters.tv/?p=6730

Diane Ravitch Faults Culture of Tests
http://www.lohud.com/article/20140116/NEWS02/301160100/Ravitch-faults-culture-tests

The Beginning of an End to Sanction-Driven Education?
http://educationopportunitynetwork.org/the-beginning-of-an-end-to-sanction-driven-education/

NCLB 12th Anniversary: Lake Wobegon is Finally Here
http://www.forumforeducation.org/blog/its-finally-here

Education Bills Languish in Congress
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2014/01/15/17congress_ep.h33.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