Testing Resistance & Reform News: September 14 – 20, 2016

The 2016-2017 academic year is barely underway, but grassroots assessment reform pressure is already producing positive changes in both K-12 schools and university admission policies.

Remember that back issues of these weekly updates are archived at: https://fairtest.orgdata.com.org/news/other — friends and colleagues can sign up at: https://fairtest.orgdata.com.org/weekly-news-signup

National ESSA Raises Stakes in 2016 State Elections
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2016/09/14/essa-raises-k-12-stakes-in-…
National Opt-Out Movement Continues to Grow
http://denishajones.blogspot.com/2016/09/the-opt-out-movement-continues-…

Arizona Test-Driven Schools Are a Change for the Worse
http://tucson.com/news/opinion/column/guest/claire-miller-public-educati…
Arizona Educators Question New Standards and Assessments
http://www.yumasun.com/news/education-officials-raise-concerns-about-ela…

California Schools to Get New Measures of Success, Not Driven by Standardized Exam Scores
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/million-729028-california-rely.html
California Unfair to Compare District Test Results Without Considering Demographics
http://www.thereporter.com/general-news/20160914/tusd-official-unfair-to…

Colorado State Board Majority Considers Junking Current Testing System
http://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/co/2016/09/14/now-is-the-time-to-discuss-…

Florida State Losing Teachers One Test at a Time
http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/romano-florida-is-losing-teac…

Georgia Parents Provide Guidance About Reining in Testing Under ESSA
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/local/education/article102845682.html

Indiana “All Work, No Play” Schools Result From Testing Demands
http://www.kokomotribune.com/opinion/columns/tami-silverman-all-work-no-…
Indiana Public Provides Input on State ESSA Plan
http://www.news-sentinel.com/news/local/Input-session-on-new-state-educa…

Michigan Teacher Survey Cites Testing as Top Threat to Education
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2016/09/19/michigan…

Mississippi Parental Pressure Produces Changes in School Accountability Plan
http://www.msparentscampaign.org/component/content/article?id=1422
Mississippi Test Cheating Scandal Leads to Lawsuit
http://www.courthousenews.com/2016/09/15/school-cheating-scandal-leads-t…

Nebraska Faulty Test Scores Will Not Be Used to Rate School Performance This Year
http://journalstar.com/news/local/education/test-scores-won-t-be-used-to…

Nevada Company Awarded Testing Contract Despite Past Problems
http://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/23908741-113/nevada-gov-brian-sandoval-…

New Jersey High School Graduation Should Not Depend on Passing One Exam
http://www.app.com/story/opinion/readers/2016/09/13/letter-graduation-de…
New Jersey Don’t Judge Teachers Based on Standardized Test Scores
http://www.nj.com/education/2016/09/dont_judge_teachers_based_on_standar…
New Jersey ESSA Offers Opportunity for Schools to Change Course
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/16/09/14/op-ed-essa-offers-opportunit…

New York Testing Burden Hits English Language Learners Hard
https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160913/eastchester/how-burden-of-test…
New York Regents Question Test Score Comparisons Due to Exam Format Changes
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/N-Y-Regents-question-standardize…

Ohio District Tells Parents Test Scores Don’t Indicate Academic Quality
http://wytv.com/2016/09/12/parents-might-be-surprised-by-their-childs-st…
Ohio State Report Card Grades Plummet After Students Take Third Different Test in Three Years
http://www.wcpo.com/news/insider/state-report-card-grades-plummet-after-…
Ohio Local Supers Want Less School Testing
http://highlandcountypress.com/Content/Opinions/Opinion/Article/Local-su…

Oregon Audit Shows Smarter Balanced Exams Take Up Scarce Time, Resources
http://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-smarter-balanced-exams-audit/
Oregon Test Opt-Out Movement Gains Ground
http://www.eugeneweekly.com/20160915/news-features/opt-out-movement-cont…

Texas Exam Glitches Made Results Useless Even for Test-and-Punish Proponents
https://communityimpact.com/houston/pearland-friendswood/education/2016/…

Utah Politicians Manipulate “Bar” So More Schools Labeled “Failing”
http://www.sltrib.com/home/4356215-155/school-grades-down-statewide-afte…
Utah School Grading Scam
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865662578/Letter-Grading-schools.html

Vermont Educators Balk at Test Cost Increase
https://vtdigger.org/2016/09/13/vermont-education-officials-balk-tests-p…

Virginia Course Manipulation to Keep Low Score Out of State Exams
http://pilotonline.com/news/local/education/public-schools/virginia-scho…

Wisconsin Time to Get Rid of Teach-to-the-Test Classrooms
http://www.wpr.org/author-its-time-get-rid-teach-test-style-classroom-in…

University Admission Half of “Top 100” National Liberal Arts Colleges No Longer Require ACT/SAT
https://fairtest.orgdata.com.org/half-top-100-national-liberal-arts-colleges-do-not
University Admission Why I’m Glad My School Dumped the SAT (and ACT, Too)
http://time.com/money/4490352/college-doesnt-accept-sat/

International Top-Scoring Singapore is Rethinking High-Stakes Testing
http://qz.com/780752/singapore-is-rethinking-high-stakes-tests/
International Continuous Testing Leaves New Zealand Students “Shell Shocked”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/84446597/continuous-ncea-testi…

Worth Reading New Way to Honor Schools Without Looking at Test Scores
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/09/12/a-new-way…

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