FAIR TEST report shows test resistance continues to grow across the USA
The latest report from FAIR TEST shows that even as the school year ends resistance to high-stakes and other corporate "reform" testing programs continues to grow. The resistance stretches from coast to coast and from large urban centers to the most remote rural areas, and across all demographic lines. Although the billionaires and multi-millionaires are under-represented in the sample of people resisting the Testocracy (as many are now calling it), even among those there are some skeptics.
Although Fair Test's Bob Schaeffer has been providing reporters with weekly news updates compiled from across the country, as the school year ended, he could, and rightly, proclaim "What a week!" The "Resistance Spring" has made a major impact, and the resistance continues to grow now that teachers for the most part are getting some rest from the relentless and evil pressure to produce "data" instead of teaching children.
Below is the latest press release from FAIR TEST:
FairTest. National Center for Fair & Open Testing
TO: Journalists Who Cover Education
FROM: Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director
RE: Testing Resistance & Reform News
DATE: June 24, 2014
What a week!
The impacts of "Testing Resistance & Reform Spring" protests reverberate across the nation with more states suspending testing requirements or pulling out of testing consortia. Bill Gates' call for a moratorium on some consequences from Common Core exams, quickly implemented by some political allies, reflects another way grassroots power is forcing policy elites to backpedal. To take advantage of this opportunity, parents, educators, students, and community activists need to step up advocacy campaigns to end standardized testing misuse and press for implementation of higher quality performance assessments.
Remember that back issues of these weekly updates are archived at: http://fairtest.org/news -- let me know if you want to be added to the regular distribution list
What the Gates Foundation's Embrace of a High-Stakes Testing Moratorium Really Means
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/living-in-dialogue/2014/06/john_thompson_time_for_a_truce.html
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/living-in-dialogue/2014/06/is_a_high_stakes_moratorium_wo.html
http://radicalscholarship.wordpress.com/2014/06/22/debating-the-gates-moratorium-or-life-among-the-roadbuilders/
http://garyrubinstein.wordpress.com/2014/06/21/gates-foundation-sends-reformers-scrambling/
Plan for Common Core Testing "Fractures" As States Withdraw
http://hechingerreport.org/content/common-common-core-fractures-state-support-falters_16420/
Common Core National Field Tests Had Major, Known Data Security Flaw
http://www.arizonadailyindependent.com/2014/06/16/parcc-field-tests-had-major-data-security-flaws-and-of-course-they-knew-all-about-it/
Bid-Rigging Lawsuit Throws $240Million/Year Common Core Testing Contract Into Limbo
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/06/11/core-business-major-testing-company-pearson-lands-controversial-common-core/
Colorado Parent's Letter: Fixation on Testing Hurts Local Education
http://www.reporterherald.com/opinion/letters/ci_26020119/focus-testing-hurts-local-education
DC Public Schools Take "Hiatus" From Test-Based Teacher Evaluation
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/dc-public-schools-takes-hiatus-from-test-based-teacher-evaluations-as-city-moves-to-common-core-exams/2014/06/19/184b8b44-f7c2-11e3-8aa9-dad2ec039789_story.html
Supers Question Florida Writing Test Scores
http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/testing/superintendents-voice-strong-doubts-about-fcat-writing-tests/2185177
Florida Teacher Who Decried "Toxic Culture of Education" Now Running for School Board
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/blogs/school-zone/os-orange-teacher-toxic-culture--school-board-,0,1357720.post
Turmoil Over Indiana School Testing Continues
http://www.thestarpress.com/article/20140618/OPINION01/306180015/Common-Core-education
Indiana Parents Protest Testing Frequency
http://www.elkharttruth.com/news/schools/2014/06/24/Goshen-schools-questioned-by-parent-group-over-frequency-of-student-tests.html
Louisiana Governor Seeks to Block Common Core Test
http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20140618/NEWS01/140618007
Common Core Fight in Louisiana Needs Common Sense
http://www.theneworleansadvocate.com/opinion/9505036-171/guest-oped-common-core-doesnt
Massachusetts Super: Adding New Tests Fits the Definition of "Insanity"
http://superintendentlps.blogspot.com/2014/06/insanity-doing-thesame-thing-over-and.html
Debate Over Massachusetts Testing System Ignores Larger Educational Questions
http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/editorials/2014/06/22/debate-over-dueling-test-systems-avoids-larger-education-questions/IgYBduPxOCpPHFLCGhTG3N/story.html#
New Jersey Assembly Votes to Put Brakes on Common Core Testing
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/06/18/assembly-votes-to-put-brakes-on-impact-of-common-core-testing/
New York Educator Union Head Seeks Overhaul of Exam-Score-Based Ratings
http://ny.chalkbeat.org/2014/06/18/nysut-head-getting-rid-of-test-scores-only-a-first-step-toward-evaluation-overhaul/#.U6LVa2OiUng
Common Core Testing Concerns Spur Teacher Evaluation Change
http://www.lohud.com/story/news/politics/albany-watch/2014/06/19/common-core-concerns-spur-teacher-evaluation-changes/11031011/
New York Parents Outraged That Testing "Pause" Does Not Include Students
https://dianeravitch.net/2014/06/19/new-york-parents-outraged-by-cuomos-deal-on-tests-what-about-the-children/
Ohio Legislature Delays Common Core Testing Impact
http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/news/local-education/state-slows-down-new-curriculum-testing-standards/ngMwd/
Rhode Island Legislature Passes Grad Test Suspension Bill
http://www.providencestudentunion.org/2014/06/20/ri-students-win-3-year-high-stakes-testing-ban/
Happy Rhode Island Teenager Was Prime Example for Exit Exam Repeal
http://www.providencejournal.com/news/education/20140622-barrington-teen-who-was-denied-diploma-really-happy-ri-lawmakers-voted-to-dump-necaps.ece
South Carolina Retroactively Gives Diplomas to Adults Who Failed High School Grad Test
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/education/2014/06/18/former-students-seek-diplomas-new-law/10830371/
Tennessee Quits PARCC Testing Consortium
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2014/06/tennessee_quits_parcc.html
Legislators Seek Tennessee Ed. Head's Resignation Over Test-Score Manipulation
http://www.fox17.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/lawmakers-demand-education-commissioner-huffman-resign-mikayla-lewis-21922.shtml
Texas District Super: Test Does Not Define Your Child
http://www.ketknbc.com/news/lindale-superintendent-shares-thoughts-about-staar
Education "Reform" -- A National Delusion
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-nelson/education-reform-a-nation_b_5511589.html
New Analysis Rebuts Claims About Accuracy of "Value-Added" Teacher Evaluation
http://nepc.colorado.edu/newsletter/2014/06/adler-response-to-chetty
Cartoon: Transforming Teachers Into Mere Test Proctors
http://blackeducator.blogspot.com/2014/06/taylorism-20-transforming-teachers-into.html
What Real Learning Looks Like (Hint: It's Not Test-Driven Classrooms)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/06/18/what-real-learning-actually-looks-like-in-class/
How Standardized Testing Keeps Us Stuck in the 20th Century
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2014/06/18/testing-education-update-738/
Why Education in Finland Works
"Good Morning Mission Hill" -- A Model for a U.S. School Promoting Real Learning
Why Machines Should Never Be Allowed to Grade Student Writing
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/06/18/sarcasm-scarlett-johannson-and-why-machines-should-never-grade-student-writing/
College to Applicants: We Won't Look at Your SATs (or ACTs)
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/college-to-applicants-we-wont-look-at-your-sats-2014-06-18
Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing
office- (239) 395-6773 fax- (239) 395-6779
mobile- (239) 696-0468
web- http://www.fairtest.org
