Bob Schaeffer’s Weekly Roundup of News on Testing Mania

This is entirely from Bob Schaeffer:

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With public schools closing for the summer, many states are reviewing their 2015-2016 testing experience (once again, not a pretty picture) and planning to implement assessment reforms in coming years.  You can help stop the U.S. Department of Education from promoting testing misuse and overuse by weighing in on proposed Every Student Succeeds Act regulations.

National  Act Now to Stop Federal Regulations That Reimpose Failed No Child Left Behind Test-and-Punish Policies

https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-congress-department-must-drop-proposed-accountability-regulations

Alaska State Preps for Implementing New Federal Education Law
http://skagwaynews.com/school-preps-for-phasing-out-no-child-left-behind-policies/

Delaware Teacher Evaluations Could Be Less Focused on Test scores
http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/education/2016/06/20/test-scores-evaluations/86134396/

Florida Legal Fight Looms Over Third Grade Retention Based on Test Participation
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/fl-opt-out-retention-20160619-story.html
Florida Parents Pressure School Board on Test-Use Policies
http://www.bradenton.com/news/local/education/article84734742.html

Georgia School Chief Addresses Testing Meltdown
http://getschooled.blog.myajc.com/2016/06/17/state-school-chief-on-milestones-meltdown-were-fixing-it/

Indiana Panel Unclear on Vision for New Assessments
http://indianapublicmedia.org/stateimpact/2016/06/14/istep-panel-unclear-vision-assessment/

Kansas State Testing Time Will Be Reduced
http://www.kake.com/story/32231184/state-test-time-to-be-reduced

Kentucky Feds Respond to State’s Accountability Plan Concerns
http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/education/2016/06/16/us-ed-dept-responds-accountability-concerns/86010782/

Maryland State Commission Passes Buck to Reduce Testing to Schools
http://baltimorepostexaminer.com/testing-commission-wraps-asking-local-school-systems-finish-work/2016/06/15
Maryland Students Say Too Much Testing
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/readersrespond/bs-ed-testing-letter-20160617-story.html

Massachusetts Schools to Help Map Assessments of the Future
http://www.capenews.net/bourne/news/bourne-to-help-map-future-of-school-assessments/article_4048811d-eddc-5195-ad20-eec61eb86a60.html

Missouri Schools Are More Than Test Scores
http://ccheadliner.com/opinion/local-viewpoint-jtsd-is-more-than-its-test-scores/article_0c9d7b60-3305-11e6-a685-cf3e9a4ffb56.html

New York Test Flexibility for Students with Learning Disabilities is Step in Right Direction
http://www.lohud.com/story/opinion/editorials/2016/06/15/regents-disabilities-graduation-rule-change-editorial/85885818/
New York Families Fight Back Against Opt-Out Punishments
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/06/16/how-some-students-who-refused-to-take-high-stakes-standardized-tests-are-being-punished/

Ohio State Eases Some Test Score Cut Offs
http://www.mydaytondailynews.com/news/news/state-eases-some-test-score-levels/nrgQZ/

Oklahoma Legislature Ends Exit Exam Graduation Requirement
http://www.tulsaworld.com/homepagelatest/what-last-minute-change-in-student-testing-law-means-for/article_f69102e3-97c2-52bc-b616-4fcab147a186.html

Tennessee State Comptroller Finds Computer Testing Problems Widespread
http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2016/06/20/tennessee-comptroller-lists-online-test-issues-every-state/86137098/
Tennessee Testing Is “In a Transition Phase”
http://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/tn/2016/06/14/theme-of-junes-testing-task-force-meeting-were-in-a-transition-phase/

Texas Scrapped STAAR Scores Add to Standardized Testing Frustration
http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2016/06/15/scrapped-staar-scores-add-frustration-standardized-testing-texas/
Texas Legislator Says State Should Not Pay for Flawed Tests
http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2016-06-13
Texas Study Panel Not Yet Ready to Ditch State Standardized Exams
http://keranews.org/post/study-panel-not-ready-ditch-staar

Utah State Residents Give Failing Grade to Common Core Standardized Testing
http://www.sltrib.com/news/4001870-155/tribune-poll-utahns-give-failing-grades

Wisconsin Test Changes Render Year-to-Year Comparisons Useless
http://www.wiscnews.com/baraboonewsrepublic/opinion/editorial/article_8b7bf9a8-5825-5791-a621-d02ed86c3b63.html

International Nine Out of Ten British Teachers Say Test Prep Focus Hurts Students’ Mental Health
https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-news/nine-10-teachers-believe-sats-preparation-harms-childrens-mental

University Admission If High School GPA Is Best Predictor of College Outcomes, Why Do Schools Cling to ACT/SAT
http://getschooled.blog.myajc.com/2016/06/15/if-gpa-is-the-best-predictor-of-college-success-why-do-colleges-cling-to-act-and-sat/

Worth Reading Opt-Out Movement Reflects Genuine Concerns of Parents
http://educationnext.org/opt-out-reflects-genuine-concerns-of-parents-forum-testing/
Worth Reading Study Finds More Testing, Less Play in Kindergarten
http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/06/21/481404169/more-testing-less-play-study-finds-higher-expectations-for-kindergartners
Worth Reading Test Scores Are Poor Predictors of Life Outcomes
https://janresseger.wordpress.com/2016/06/17/test-scores-poor-indicator-of-students-life-outcomes-and-school-quality-new-consensus/

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

Weekly Roundup of Educational Resistance by Bob Schaeffer

{As usual, this list is collected and distributed by Bob Schaeffer, not by me.}

The U.S. Senate has joined the House of Representatives in responding to growing, grassroots pressure by voting to overhaul “No Child Left Behind” (NCLB). The bills passed by both the Senate and House reflect widespread rejection of failed top-down, test-and-punish strategies as well as the “NCLB on steroids” waiver regime dictated by Arne Duncan. While neither version is close to perfect from an assessment reform perspective, each makes significant progress by rolling back federally mandated high-stakes, eliminating requirements to evaluate educators based on student test scores, and recognizing opt-out rights. FairTest and its allies will closely monitor the conference committee working on compromise language to make sure the gains remain in the final bill sent to President Obama — the alternative is to keep the yoke of NCLB-and-waivers in place for at least two more years, if not much longer. Meanwhile, organizers in many states are keeping the spotlight on the problems of test overuse and misuse, modeling better practices and winning additional policy victories.

Remember that back issues of these weekly updates are archived at:http://fairtest.org/news/other

National End High-Stakes Testing to Help Fix Public Education: Key Civil Rights Leader

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/education/247770-fix-public-education-end-high-stakes-testing-pass-esea
National U.S. Senate Rejects Proposal to Give Federal Government More Say in Identifying “Failing” Schools
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/senate-rejects-effort-to-give-feds-more-say-in-identifying-failing-schools/2015/07/15/f6ad9ba2-2a6b-11e5-a5ea-cf74396e59ec_story.html
National Both House and Senate NCLB Overhaul Bills Allow for Penalty-Free Test Opt Out
https://deutsch29.wordpress.com/2015/07/17/both-house-and-senate-esea-bills-allow-for-opt-out-without-penalty/
National “Race to the Top:” Lofty Promises and Top-Down Regulation Brought Few Good Changes to America’s Schools
http://educationnext.org/lofty-promises-little-change-americas-schools/

California Exit Exam on Way Out
http://www.hidesertstar.com/news/article_ee092084-2cfa-11e5-98d3-fbf7e03679c0.html

Colorado Two Small Districts Set Opt Out Records
http://co.chalkbeat.org/2015/07/20/two-small-districts-set-the-record-for-opting-out/#.Va1_rZdLUZw

Connecticut Opposition Coalesces Against Smarter Balanced Tests
http://www.newmilfordspectrum.com/news/article/Opposition-coelesces-regarding-school-testing-6393921.php

Delaware Governor Vetoes Opt-Out Bill; State PTA Pushed for Override Vote
http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/education/2015/07/16/markell-vetoes-testing-opt-bill/30243869/

Georgia More than 10,000 Young People Who Did Not Pass Grad. Test Recently Received Diplomas
http://jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2015-07-17/story/georgia-hands-diplomas-more-10000-people-who-couldnt-pass-high-school

Hawaii Teachers Fight Evaluations Based on Student Test Scores
http://www.civilbeat.com/2015/07/she-fought-hawaiis-new-way-of-evaluating-teachers-and-won/

Illinois Why Common Core Tests Are Harmful to Students
http://dianeravitch.net/2015/07/20/gerri-k-songer-explains-why-common-core-tests-are-actually-harmful-to-students/

Iowa Third-Grade Promotion Test Pushes Reading Down Into Kindergarten
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/education/2015/04/20/early-reading-education-reform/26100783/

Louisiana Fight to Make Charter School Disclose What Test It Uses for Kindergarten Entry
http://hechingerreport.org/when-a-top-nola-charter-wont-reveal-its-admission-test-for-kindergarten/

Minnesota Test Cuts Came After Thorough Debate
http://www.startribune.com/editorial-counterpoint-school-testing-cuts-were-fully-debated/316368021/

Missouri Exam Scores Don’t Tell Full Story of Teacher Preparedness
http://www.examiner.net/article/20150715/OPINION/150719341/-1/sports

Ohio Time Allocated to New State Tests Cut in Half
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/07/ohios_common_core_math_and_english_tests_will_be_cut_to_3_hours_each.html

Nevada After Testing System Breakdown, State to Hire New Assessment Vendor
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/state_edwatch/2015/07/after_testing_problems_nevada_set_to_hire_new_assessment_vendor.html

New Hampshire Schools Can Replace Smarter Balanced Tests with ACT or SAT
http://nhpr.org/post/nh-schools-can-replace-smarter-balanced-test-sat-and-act

New Jersey Be Wary of New State Teacher Ratings
http://www.app.com/story/opinion/2015/07/17/teacher-ratings/30307937/

New Mexico Court Rejects Suit Seeking to Strip Pearson’s Common Core Testing Contract
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/marketplacek12/2015/07/court_hands_major_victory_to_parcc_pearson_in_challenge_by_vendor.html

New York High School Models Authentic Assessment
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2015/07/17/nyc-high-school-strives-for-authentic-assessment.html
New York Opt Out Movement Plans to Ratchet Up Actions Against Standardized Exam Overkill
http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/238624/opt-outers-will-continue-to-protest-tests/
New York Pending NCLB Overhaul Offers Hope to Reduce State’s Testing Obsession
http://www.lohud.com/story/opinion/2015/07/17/hope-reduce-testing-obsession-nclb/30290533/

North Carolina State’s Largest District Cuts Back Local Test Mandates
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article27865318.html
North Carolina Cautions About Test-Score-Based Teacher Pay
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/community/chapel-hill-news/chn-opinion/article27512254.html

Oregon Students Can Meet Graduation Requirement with Work Samples in Their Home Language
http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2015/07/oregon_students_can_qualify_fo.html

Pennsylvania Questions Mount About Using Volatile Test Results to Evaluate Teachers and Schools
http://thenotebook.org/blog/158810/educators-pennsylvania-pssa-test-score-plunge
Pennsylvania Teachers to School Board: Standardized Testing is Harming Students
http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/cocalico-teachers-to-school-board-standardized-testing-is-harming-students/article_dc32651c-2e4b-11e5-803e-0be9cdf1e4bc.html

Rhode Island What Tests Like PARCC Do Not Measure
http://www.golocalprov.com/news/guest-mindsetter-joel-hellmann-what-parcc-doesnt-measure

Tennessee Teachers School Governor on Testing and Evaluations
http://tn.chalkbeat.org/2015/07/16/tennessee-teachers-school-haslam-on-testing-evaluations-during-first-teachers-cabinet-meeting/#.VahPb5dLUZw
Tennessee Local School Board to Take Up Opt Out Resolution
http://springhillhomepage.com/wcs-board-delays-talks-on-over-testing-cms-4594

Texas New Test Leading Fewer to Get GEDs
https://www.texastribune.org/2015/07/14/education-advocates-say-new-computer-based-ged-too/

Washington State Testing Revolt Pushes State Into Uncharted Waters
http://wutc.org/post/testing-revolt-washington-state-brings-feds-uncharted-waters
Washington Over-Testing is a Flawed Strategy
http://www.dailyrecordnews.com/familyandeducation/is-there-too-much-testing/article_15326290-2cdf-11e5-b9a9-637e48088a15.html

“How Many Tests Can a Child Withstand?” — with apologies to Bob Dylan
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2015/07/14/with-apologies-to-bob-dylan-a-song-how-many-tests-must-a-child-withstandbefore-we-can-kill-this-scam/

The Beatings in Education Will Continue Until Morale Improves
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-nelson/the-beatings-will-continu_b_7795784.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

Bob Schaeffer’s Weekly Roundup of Actions Against the Testing Juggernaut

Demonstrating another surge of support for assessment reform as the Spring 2015 testing season nears, this week’s stories about the movement against standardized exam overuse and misuse come from more than 40% of the 50 states. The news is reinforced by several excellent analytic pieces and opinion columns (back issues of these weekly updates are archived at: http://fairtest.org/news/other)

In addition to keeping the heat on state and local policy-makers, now is the time to let your U.S. Senators and Representative know you support a significant reduction in federal testing mandates, an end to test-based consequences for students, teachers or schools and more funding for better forms of assessment. Please make those calls and send your emails today!

Recommendations for Overhauling “No Child Left Behind” From Forum on Educational Accountability
http://www.fairtest.org/fea-recommendations-improving-federal-law-january
Teacher Tells Congress: Federal Testing Mandates Are Wrong
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2015/01/21/teacher-tells-congress-the-federal-incentives-in-education-are-wrong/
Lawmakers Propose End to Annual Standardized Exam Requirement
http://dianeravitch.net/2015/01/21/a-proposal-to-end-annual-testing/
Listen to What Senator Whitehouse Said About Education Policy
http://educationopportunitynetwork.org/democrats-should-listen-to-what-senator-whitehouse-said-about-education-policy/

Arizona Schools’ Chief Wants New Assessment Ditched
http://www.abc15.com/news/state/arizona-schools-chief-wants-new-assessment-test-gone

Standardized Testing Fixation is Destroying Education in California and Across U.S.
http://www.citywatchla.com/8box-left/8272-wake-up-call-standarized-tests-are-destroying-american-education
Experts Say New Common Core Tests Not Ready to Grade California Schools
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/social-affairs/20150120/some-experts-say-california-testing-should-not-be-used-to-grade-schools-yet

Colorado Lawmakers Continue Introducing Bills to Limit Testing
http://gazette.com/colorado-lawmakers-continue-introducing-bills-to-limit-testing/article/1544914

Five Florida Counties Sponsor Legislation Allowing Them to Opt Out of State Tests
http://www.nbc-2.com/story/27928046/swfl-school-superintendents-request-more-flexibility-from-state#.VMQmcOFLUZw

Louisiana School Expects Flood of Test Refusals
http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2015/01/26/lpss-receives-first-testing-refusal-more-expected-soon/22346389/

No Maine Law Requires Students to Take a Test
http://www.sunjournal.com/news/columns-analysis/2015/01/25/jaclyn-boyd-government-should-not-dictate-if-child-takes-test/1645210
New Maine Tests Raises School Board Concerns; Some May Ask to Opt Out
http://www.mdislander.com/maine-news/education-news/test-raises-red-flags

Are Maryland Schools Giving Too Many Tests
http://www.wbaltv.com/education/are-school-systems-giving-students-too-many-tests/30866478

“We Are More Than Numbers” — Massachusetts Students’ Video on Testing
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_oXWSpH_mLrVW9idHpIYXFSZms/edit?pli=1

Michigan Parents Upset By Schools’ Test Opt-Out Policy
http://www.wnem.com/story/27897329/parents-upset-about-standardized-testing-requirements

New Jersey Parents and Voters Want Kids Tested Less: New Poll
http://www.nj.com/education/2015/01/nj_parents_want_kids_tested_less_njea_poll_says.html
Early Results of New Jersey PARCC Testing: Widespread Misery
http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/01/post_111.html#incart_river
New Jersey Commission Calls for Cutback in Time Spent on Testing
http://www.northjersey.com/news/n-j-commission-urges-school-districts-to-reduce-testing-1.1239411

Computer Crashes Mar New Mexico PARCC Test Trial Run
http://www.koat.com/news/glitches-afflict-parcc-test-run/30874602

Long Island, New York Teacher Refuses to Administer Common Core Test, Superintendent Backs Her
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2015/01/20/teacher-refuses-to-give-common-core-test-to-kids-with-her-superintendents-support/
Why Parents Are Refusing New York’s Common Core Tests
http://www.lohud.com/story/opinion/contributors/2015/01/24/refusing-states-common-core-tests/22217149/
New York Governor Cuomo “Obsessed” With Testing Teachers
http://www.lohud.com/story/opinion/editorials/2015/01/21/gov-cuomo-wrongly-focused-teacher-evaluations/22129435/
Open Letter to NY Gov. Cuomo: My Child Is Not a Test Score
http://www.syracuse.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/01/dear_gov_cuomo_my_child_is_not_a_test_score_your_letters.html

More Tests Won’t Fix North Carolina Schools
http://www.heraldonline.com/2015/01/21/6723890_more-tests-wont-fix-schools.html?rh=1
The Flaw in North Carolina’s School Performance Grades
http://www.heraldsun.com/news/showcase/x2130548298/The-flaw-in-School-Performance-Grades

Some Ohio Students Opt Out of State Tests
http://www.starbeacon.com/news/some-grand-valley-students-opt-out/article_b57390a8-a508-11e4-89a8-2b7b80163bfc.html

Oklahoma High-Stakes Exam Opponents Look to Legislative Session to Cut Testing Overkill
http://www.fox23.com/news/news/local/high-stakes-testing-opponents-look-forward-state-l/njsKd/

Bill Would Expand Oregon Parents’ Right to Excuse Kids From Standardized Tests
http://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-32740-oregon_bill_would_expand_parents_rights_to_excuse_kids_from_standarized_tests.html

Many Students at Pennsylvania School Plan to Opt Out of Tests
http://citypaper.net/news/feltonville-arts-and-sciences-students-posed-to-quit-standardized-tests-en-masse/
Parents Back Teachers Who Explain Pennsylvania Opt-Out Process
http://dianeravitch.net/2015/01/26/philadelphia-warns-teachers-of-disciplinary-actions-if-they-inform-parents-of-opt-out-right/

Many Testing and Accountability Bills in 2015 Texas Legislative Hopper
http://educationblog.dallasnews.com/2015/01/testing-and-accountability-bills-in-the-texas-legislative-hopper.html/

Students, Activists Support Utah Teacher Fired for Refusing to Administer Test
http://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2067279-155/rolly-activists-students-support-utah-teacher

Tacoma, Washington Parents Join Movement to Opt Kids Out of Standardized Testing
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/01/24/3599718_tacoma-area-parents-join-movement.html?rh=1–

High-Poverty Wisconsin Schools More Likely to Be Labeled “Failing”
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/education/2015/01/24/impoverished-schools-likely-labeled-failing/22280449/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin=

A Failing Grade for Test-Based School Report Cards
http://nepc.colorado.edu/newsletter/2015/01/why-school-report-cards-fail

16 States Plus D.C. Require Third-Grade Retention Based on  Test Scores
http://www.ecs.org/clearinghouse/01/16/44/11644.pdf

The Past, Present and Future of High-Stakes Testing
http://www.npr.org/blogs/ed/2015/01/22/377438689/the-past-present-and-future-of-high-stakes-testing

U.S. Addiction to Testing is Ripping the Humanity Out of Education
http://www.alternet.org/education/our-addiction-testing-ripping-humanity-out-education

Teachers Need Tests. . . Just Not Just Those Ones
http://badassteachers.blogspot.com/2015/01/teachers-need-tests.html

Why Everybody Hates Pearson
http://fortune.com/2015/01/21/everybody-hates-pearson/

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

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My apologies for not keeping up with this.

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

 

Weekly education resistance news roundup from FaiTest

From Bob Schaeffer:

With schools open across the nation, opposition to the planned Common Core Assessments is surging. As protests spread, more commentators are taking note of the disconnect between the growing resistance to standardized exam overkill among parents, teachers and community leaders and the stubborn support of failed testing policies by public officials.

Remember that back issues or these weekly updates are available at: http://fairtest.org/news/whats%20new

Common Core Assessment Myths — New FairTest Fact Sheet
http://fairtest.org/common-core-assessments-factsheet
States Worried About Common Core Tests
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2013/08/29/states-core-tests/
Most School Districts Cannot Handle Common Core Technology Demands
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2013/09/05/networks-core-common-002/?ps=23351-0013000000j04Vt-0033000000q5P4J
Why a Common Core Standards Proponent Opposes the Common Core Tests
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/e-d-hirsch-jr/common-core-tests_b_3824859.html

A Test for New York Mayoral Candidates
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/test-mayoral-candidates-article-1.1444953
Stop and Frisk These Test Scores
http://thejosevilson.com/stop-and-frisk-these-test-scores/#sthash.6ysFVRdT.9Krxphzo.dpbs
New Yorkers Organize “Send Back the Scores” Protest Event
https://www.facebook.com/events/238152966333080/

More Georgia Parents Eager to Opt-Out of State Tests
http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/section/6/article/88130/

Illinois District Super Says Cut-Score Increase will “Push Students Off Cliff”
http://www.gcsdblogs.org/kuffel/?p=847

Back to School for Providence Student Activists
http://providence.thephoenix.com/news/155349-extracurricular-activism/?page=1#TOPCONTENT

North Carolina Parents, Teachers Seek Testing Moratorium
http://www.mecklenburgacts.org/2013/09/stop-high-stakes-msl-tests-now/

Failed Tennessee Testing Model Perpetuates Educational Injustice
http://truth-out.org/news/item/18476-state-failures-national-models-and-the-perpetuation-of-educational-injustice

The Flaws of Politicians’ School Grading Schemes
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/56819173-82/schools-students-grading-utah.html.csp

Huge Disconnect Between Public and Policymakers on Education
http://takingnote.learningmatters.tv/?p=6527

Five Bad Education Assumptions the Media Keeps Recycling
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/08/29/five-bad-education-assumptions-the-media-keeps-recycling/

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

Another Weekly Roundup of News on the Movement Against Testing Mania

This is from Bob Schaeffer at FairTest, as usual:

====================================

How much more evidence do policy makers need before they recognize that test-and-punish policies have failed? Learning gains have stagnated, progress toward closing the “achievement gap” has stalled, and their constituents increasingly reject the strategy. Even some of their strongest newspaper editorial page allies — including the New York Times and Los Angeles Times — are saying that it is time to look at alternative approaches.  Enough is enough!

Major National Survey Finds Parents Strongly Oppose Standardized Testing Misuse and Overuse
http://www.aft.org/newspubs/press/2013/072213b.cfm

Standardized Tests Take Over the School Day
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/23/1225947/-Standardized-tests-take-over-the-school-day#

High-Stakes Testing Leads to Increased Incarceration
http://www.therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=10458
See FairTest Infographic “How High-Stakes Testing Feeds the School-to-Prison Pipeline
http://fairtest.org/pipeline-infographic

Support for Common Core Testing Declines Dramatically
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/07/common-core-academic-standards-94628.html
see FairTest fact sheet: Common Core Assessments: More Tests But Not Much Better
http://fairtest.org/common-core-assessments-more-tests-not-much-better

ACLU Sues Rhode Island Over Grad Test Requirement
http://www.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/content/20130723-r.i.-aclu-plans-to-announce-lawsuit-over-necap-graduation-requirement.ece

Florida School Grading System a “Politically Manipulated Scam”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/07/19/floridas-change-to-school-rating-system-called-scam/
Convoluted School Grading System Fails. Yet Jeb Bush’s Disciples Are Pushing It in Other States
http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/convoluted-school-grading-system-fails-all/2131954

Erase to the Top: Tainted Philadelphia Scores Demonstrate Flaws of Test-Driven School “Reform”
http://www.citypaper.net/cover_story/Erase_to_the_Top.html

Widespread Test Cheating at New Orleans Charters and “Reconstruction” Schools
http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2013/07/state_documents_detail_standar.html

Oklahoma (and Indiana) Seek Test-Company Penalties for Exam Screw-ups
http://newsok.com/oklahoma-educators-need-to-get-beyond-testing-troubles/article/3865122

Why Are Texas Test-Takers Being Held More Accountable Than Test-Makers
http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2013/07/commentary-amid-school-testing-scandal-why-are-test-takers-being-held-more-accountable-than-test-makers/ 

Standardized Testing’s Casualties — another excellent Letter to the Editor
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-0721-sunday-standardized-tests-20130721,0,6581072.story

Minnesota Plans K-12 Testing “Without the Tears and Trauma”
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/07/18/daily-circuit-state-testing

Focus on Test Scores Misses the Point on Urban Education
http://www.ctpost.com/opinion/article/Ann-Evans-de-Bernard-Focus-on-test-scores-misses-4662379.php

State Testing Makes Kids Hate School
http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20120527/LIFESTYLE/205270316/Drat-State-testing-makes-bright-kids-hate-school

Students Tell Policy-Makers: Stop Corporate Ed “Reform” and High-Stakes Testing
http://www.students4ourschools.org/educationrevolution.html

Key School “Reform” Questions Beg for Answers
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/07/18/key-questions-begging-for-answers-about-school-reform/

Five Basic Lessons on Public Education
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/07/19/five-basic-lessons-on-public-education-short-and-long-versions/

New Books on Assessment Reform
“The Mismeasure of Education” — http://www.infoagepub.com/products/The-Mismeasure-of-Education
“Left Behind in the Race to the Top” — http://www.infoagepub.com/products/Left-Behind-in-the-Race-to-the-Top

Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing
ph- (239) 395-6773  fax- (239) 395-6779
cell- (239) 699-0468
web- http://www.fairtest.org

Bob Schaeffer’s Weekly Roundup of News on Resistance to Corporate EduTesting

Bob Schaeffer of FairTest has been compiling weekly summaries of news articles showing how folks all across the country are resisting the corporate agenda of test, test, test. Here is his latest one:

============================================

The pushback against high-stakes testing continues to accelerate with more parents, teachers, students, administrators, and educational policy makers recognizing that the current approach has failed and an increased focus on the looming danger from Common Core assessments.

Virginia Supers Worry That School Grades Will Primarily Measure Student Poverty
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/va-superintendents-worry-new-grading-scale-will-measures-poverty-not-instruction/2013/06/26/d7ad7566-de68-11e2-948c-d644453cf169_story.html

Editorial: New Florida School Grading Standards Are a Set-up for Failure
http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/06/30/3475969/new-standards-dont-make-the-grade.html

Students, Parents and Teachers Consider Appealing Delayed NYC Test Scores
http://gothamschools.org/2013/06/26/with-regents-exam-scores-coming-in-attention-turns-to-appeals/

NY State Senator: Instill Lifelong Learning, Not Test-Taking in Students
http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130621/OPINION/130629723/1074

Testing Has Reached Its Limits For Some Minnesota Parents
http://www.twincities.com/education/ci_23563367/some-minnesota-parents-testing-has-reached-its-limits

Oklahoma Teachers Ask State to Invalidate All 2013 Test Scores
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/26/oklahoma-standardized-tests_n_3504730.html

How Pizza Helped Garfield High Teachers Resist Standardized Testing Overkill
http://crosscut.com/2013/07/02/education/115232/arnold-garfield-high-teacherss-inspiration-strikin/

Students Who Take Tougher Grad Tests Are More Likely to End Up in Jail
http://www.businessinsider.com/jail-more-likely-for-students-who-take-hard-finals-2013-7

The Trouble with Common Core
http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/27_04/edit274.shtml

The Common Core Testing Nightmare That Awaits Us
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/randy-turner/the-common-core-nightmare_b_3521825.html

Will Common Core Assessment Focus Derail College and Career Readiness
http://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2013/06/25/fp_barnwell_career.html

Oklahoma Pulls Out of Common Core Testing Consortium: Cites Volume of New Assessments
http://www.tulsaworld.com/article.aspx/State_pulling_out_of_standardized_testing_through_consortium/20130701_19_0_StateS605337?subj=1

Union Worried Testing Will Cause More to Turn Against Common Core
http://stateimpact.npr.org/florida/2013/07/01/union-worried-testing-could-cause-public-to-turn-on-common-standards/

Common Core Assessment Consortium to Delay Some New Tests By a Year
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2013/06/testing_group_delays_some_components_for_one_year.html

See FairTest Common Core Assessment Fact Sheet
http://www.fairtest.org/common-core-assessments-more-tests-not-much-better

Time for Education “Reform” Reset
http://educationopportunitynetwork.org/6252013-an-education-reset/

Connection Between Test Scores and College Performance is Tenuous
http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130630/OPINION/130639986
See FairTest’s List of More than 800 ACT/SAT Optional Schools
http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional

The Perils of Standardized Testing: Six Ways it Harms Learning
http://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/the-perils-of-standardized-testing/

Test-Driven System Stifles Creativity Says Survey of U.S. Parents and Teachers
https://www.edsurge.com/n/2013-06-24-education-system-stifles-creativity-say-teachers-parents

Careful What You Want and How You Measure Getting It
http://www.golocalprov.com/news/julia-steiny-careful-what-you-want-how-you-measure-getting-it/

Defining Students, Teachers and Schools By a Number Does Not Improve Learning
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/finding_common_ground/2013/06/i_was_once_defined_by_a_number.html

The Revolution Will Not Be Standardized
https://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/07/01-6

Finland’s Education Ambassador Spreads the Word About a Better Alternative
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2013/jul/01/education-michael-gove-finland-gcse

Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing
ph- (239) 395-6773  fax- (239) 395-6779
cell- (239) 699-0468
web- http://www.fairtest.org

Weekly Round-Up of Ed-related News from FairTest

Here is yet another list of news items about resistance to the Global Educational Deformation Movement, from Bob Schaeffer of FairTest.

NC State Super: Testing Craze Wastes Taxpayer Dollars
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/12/21/3739031/morrison-177-state-tests-waste.html#storylink=cpy

Top-Down Testing Programs Send Wrong Message to Students and Teachers
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/overabundance-tests-schools-sends-wrong-message-article-1.1224846

Pressure Builds for Texas Test System Overhaul
http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Texas-lawmakers-eye-falling-STAAR-4142444.php

The Gap Between Education Research and Testing Policy
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jack-jennings/mind-the-gap_2_b_2324262.html
FairTest Fact Sheet: Why Teacher Evaluation Shouldn’t Rest on Student Test Scores
http://fairtest.org/sites/default/files/Teacher-Evaluation-FactSheet-10-12.pdf

Hearts and Souls of American Teachers  — A School Board Leader Speaks Out
http://www.chronicleonline.com/content/hearts-and-souls-american-teachers#.UNcwqJGY-sk.mailto

4,000 Rhode Island Teachers Sign Petition Against New Evaluation System
http://news.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/2012/12/evaluation-system-puts-ri-teachers-on-edge.html

South Carolina Teachers Criticize Test-Based Grading Plan
http://www.thestate.com/2012/12/26/2568261/sc-plan-to-grade-teachers-stirs.html#.UNxPCGeDmSp

Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing
ph-   (239) 395-6773    fax-  (239) 395-6779
cell-  (239) 699-0468
web- http://www.fairtest.org

Schaeffer also makes a pitch for donations:

If you find these news summaries helpful, please consider making a year-end gift to FairTest so we can continue this important work.  All donations are completely tax-deductible.

To contribute, simply click on http://tinyurl.com/SupportFairTest or mail your check to FairTest, P.O. Box 300204, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

A Roundup of Articles on Real Education Reform

   – this is by Bob Schaeffer of Fair Test

With the 2012 election now history, we can return to the hard work of making politicians see the light about the need for real assessment reform.

FairTest offers several new columns and fact sheets as resources for that ongoing campaign along with links to a number of good pieces by our allies

Why So Many People Are Saying “Enough is Enough” to High-Stakes Testing
 http://www.takepart.com/article/2012/10/31/why-so-many-people-say-enough-enough-high-stakes-testing

Better Alternatives to Standardized Testing
 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2012/11/02/an-alternative-to-standardized-testing-for-student-assessment/

A Better Way to Evaluate Teachers
 http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-darling-teacher-evaluations-20121105,0,650639.story

High-Stakes Testing Promoter Booted as Indiana Super; Replaced by Teacher
  http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20121107/ELECTION01/311079919/1002/LOCAL

An Open Letter to President Obama
  http://www.good.is/posts/an-open-letter-to-president-obama-from-bill-ayers/

Another Educator Calls on Obama to Change Course
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2012/11/07/a-call-for-president-obama-to-change-course-on-education/

Parents Complain About Too Much Testing to Oklahoma Super, Who Agrees
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20121108_19_A15_CUTLIN194727

Common Core Tests = More Taxpayer $$$  — this is a national issue (see FairTest fact sheet at: http://fairtest.org/common-core-assessments-more-tests-not-much-better)
  http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/local-education/school-district-needs-to-spend-12-million-on-compu/nSsxw/

Closing the Achievement Gap: Have We Flat-Lined?  — more evidence that test-driven schooling is a failure
http://eyeoned.org/content/closing-the-achievement-gap-have-we-flat-lined_379/

Is Test-Mania Killing Interest in Science Teaching?
  http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/living-in-dialogue/2012/11/is_test_mania_killing_interest.html

Philadelphia Suspends Faulty School Rating System — hard data got in the way of another faith-based evaluation system
  http://thenotebook.org/blog/125293/philly-district-suspends-school-rating-system-seeks-fix

Pearson Pays Out $623K for Test-Scoring Error That Blocked Graduation
  http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20121025/NEWS01/310240052/Pearson-North-America-scoring-error-prevented-5-Mississippi-students-from-graduating-affected-121-others

Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing
ph-   (239) 395-6773    fax-  (239) 395-6779
cell-  (239) 699-0468

Recent Articles Against Race to the Trough and other Deformations of US Public Education

Bob Schaeffer of FairTest has been compiling weekly lists of good articles that give a view from ordinary schools and households on what it’s been like under NCLB and its successor, RTTT. Here’s Schaeffer’s latest list.   — gfb

=====================================================

Assessment reform pressure continued to escalate even as Hurricane Sandy slammed ashore.  Best wishes to our friends and allies in the mid-Atlantic states as they recover from the storm.

Arne Duncan’s Legacy: Doubling Down on High Stakes Testing Failures
http://education.nationaljournal.com/2012/10/what-has-arne-done-for-us.php#2258005

Texas Tests Breed Schools for Scandal
http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/public-education/guest-column-tests-breed-schools-scandal/

Testing in Kindergarten — Whatever Happened to Story Time?
http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/testing-consumes-kindergarten-class-time-in-chicago/Content?oid=7740293

Hudson Valley Parents Rip Excess Testing
http://newyork.newsday.com/westchester/westchester-now-1.3784383/hudson-valley-parents-rip-excess-school-testing-1.4152170

Data Missing for School Improvement Grant Claims
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2012/10/transparency_watch_obama_has_t.html

The MLK Imperative in an Era of “No Excuses”
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/10/27/1149535/-The-MLK-Imperative-in-an-Era-of-No-Excuses

Researchers Urge “Caution” in Use of Value-Added Scores
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/10/25/10valueadd.h32.html

Measuring the Worth of a Teacher
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-teacher-evals-20121029,0,592261,full.story

The Naked Emporer: What Test Scores Don’t Tell Us
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/young-minds/201210/what-test-scores-dont-tell-us-the-naked-emperor

Superintendent Dissects Race to the Trough’s Flaws
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2012/10/31/school-superintendent-to-thomas-friedman-why-you-are-wrong-about-race-to-the-top/

Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing
ph-   (239) 395-6773    fax-  (239) 395-6779
cell-  (239) 699-0468
web- http://www.fairtest.org