Here is the weekly Fairtest report on new developments in the public’s efforts to roll back the testing frenzy that has been imposed on our nation’s children by Congress, the Bush administration, and the Obama administration:
Bob Schaeffer of Fairtest writes:
It’s only the middle of September but assessment reformers have already recorded an initial set of “wins” for the new school year: Pittsburgh significantly reduced district-mandated testing, and Florida suspended a controversial statewide reading exam. Building on successes of the recent past, escalating “enough is enough” pressure on federal, state and local policy-makers should produce many more victories in 2014-2015. For a list of questions to ask your district, check out the second item in this week’s collection of clips.
“Testing Reform Victories: The First Wave” — How Much Our Movement Has Already Accomplished
http://fairtest.org/new-fairtest-report-testing-reform-victories-first
Key Questions to Ask Your District About School Testing
http://takingnote.learningmatters.tv/?p=7218
Connecticut Should Reduce Student Over-Testing
http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-ed-cut-student-overtesting-20140910,0,348395.story
Florida Suspends a Controversial Test as Debate Widens Over School Testing
http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/testing/florida-suspends-a-controversial-exam-as-debate-widens-over-school-testing/2197837
Another Florida School Board Blasts Testing Overkill
http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/education/2014/09/09/standardized-school-testing-criticized-brevard-board/15364851/
Lift Florida’s Test Obsession Burden
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20140912/OPINION/140919833/-1/opinion?Title=Kathleen-Oropeza-Lift-the-burden-of-test-obsession
Floridians Stand Against Testing Excess is Long Overdue
http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/romano-a-stand-against-school-testing-is-long-overdue/2197607
Georgia Education Association Seeks Major Reduction in Testing
http://www.13wmaz.com/story/news/local/georgia/2014/09/09/georgia-association-educators-change/15350845/
Kentucky Public Schools Under Siege by So-Called “Reformers”
http://www.kentucky.com/2014/09/15/3429862_public-schools-under-siege-by.html?sp=/99/349/&rh=1
Massachusetts Needs Less Testing, More Learning — A Model Letter to the Editor
http://brookline.wickedlocal.com/article/20140912/OPINION/140918288
Putting Minnesota Test Scores in Context
http://www.timberjay.com/stories/Test-scores-in-context,11683
Too Much Testing in New Mexico Schools
http://www.currentargus.com/carlsbad-news/ci_26511345/carlsbad-current-argus
New York Congressman Will File Bill to Cut Federally Mandated Testing in Half
http://www.theislandnow.com/great_neck/rep-israel-bill-seeks-to-limit-standardized-tests/article_4ac25b28-39c3-11e4-a1f4-3bdc515cb9d2.html
New York May Slightly Relax Grad Testing Requirements
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2014/09/new_york_mulls_changes_in_grad.html?cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS3
New Ohio School Report Cards Show Link Between Poverty and School Performance
http://xeniagazette.com/news/home_top/50621045/New-report-cards-show-link-between-poverty-student-performance
Pittsburgh PA Elementary Schools To Reduce Testing Significantly
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2014/09/09/Pittsburgh-schools-to-make-big-cuts-in-testing/stories/201409090234
Fewer Exams Means More Hours for Learning
Parents, Teachers Applaud Pittsburgh’s Cutback in Testing
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2014/09/15/Pittsburgh-s-reduction-in-student-tests-wins-applause/stories/201409150007
In Texas NEA President Calls for Testing Reform
http://www.valleymorningstar.com/news/local_news/article_28c281ac-3963-11e4-8e72-001a4bcf6878.html
Introduction to Yong Zhao’s New Book, “Fatal Attraction: America’s Suicidal Quest for Educational Excellence”
Fatal Attraction: America’s Suicidal Quest for Educational Excellence
“Teach to the Test” Drives Teachers to Quit
http://www.futurity.org/standardized-testing-teachers-quit-762122/
How Young Is Too Young to be Inundated With Standardized Tests
http://www.alternet.org/education/how-young-too-young-be-inundated-tests
Good Morning Mission Hill: A Way to Highlight Your Organization’s Work
http://goodmorningmissionhill.com/a-way-to-highlight-your-organizations-work/
National Merit Scholarships Continue to Misuse Tests Scores to Award College Aid
http://www.examiner.com/article/national-merit-qualifying-scores-released-for-2014
Another Large, Public University Adopts Test-Optional Admissions
http://articles.philly.com/2014-09-10/news/53775454_1_test-scores-rowan-university-applicants
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
Diane Ravitch's blog 
From the linked Kentucky article, by Marty Solomon, “Top scoring nations have child poverty rates in the 5% range whereas the rate in the U.S. is nearly 20%. So, if you would take all U.S. children in schools where the poverty rate is 10% or less, the U.S. would score above all other nations.”
Low scoring districts harm themselves by having their students take the tests. If the scores are published or available to the public, property values suffer. And, when new residents aren’t attracted to the community, businesses suffer. It becomes a Gates-given downward spiral.