This is the weekly report from FairTest, which has been fighting for reform of testing for many years.
In state after state, policymakers are responding to constituent concerns by re-evaluating testing mandates. The changes they initially consider are often cosmetic, such as substituting one mediocre exam for another. But escalating grassroots pressure — particularly opting out — is beginning to force legislators to focus on the real problems of standardized testing overuse and misuse. Already, several have repealed or postponed requirements to evaluate teachers based on student tests scores. By working together, parents, students, teachers, administrators, academics and community activists can increase the odds that more genuine assessment reforms are enacted this year.
National Is a New Day Really Dawning with “No Child” Successor Law?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/03/11/is-a-new-day-really-dawning-with-no-child-left-behinds-successor-law/
National Why the Opt-Out Movement is Good for Students and Parents of Color
http://www.progressive.org/pss/six-reasons-why-opt-out-movement-good-students-and-parents-color
Multiple States Southern States Reconsidering Role of Student Test Scores in Teacher Evaluation
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/teacherbeat/2016/03/reconsidering_test_scores_in_teacher_evaluations.html
Multiple States On-Line Testing Stumbles Spark Legislation
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2016/03/09/online-testing-stumbles-spark-legislation-in-affected.html
FairTest Chronology of Computerized Testing Problems
http://fairtest.org/computerized-testing-problems-2013-2015
Arizona Legislature Supports Test Shopping “Menu” Instead of Endorsing Opting Out
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/TheRange/archives/2016/03/09/state-testing-opt-out-is-out-test-shopping-is-a-definite-maybe
Arizona Governor Signs Bill Allowing “Menu” of State Tests
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2016/03/11/ducey-signs-bill-allowing-menu-of_ap.html
California Proposed History, Social Science Exams Raise Questions About Testing Burden
http://edsource.org/2016/proposed-history-social-science-tests-raise-concerns-about-testing-burden/561606
California Opting-Out Protects Children From Testing Fixation
http://www.citywatchla.com/index.php/the-la-beat/10714-tests-and-children-accessories-to-education
Colorado Don’t Add Another Mandatory Test
http://www.denverpost.com/editorials/ci_29622733/dont-add-another-mandatory-test-colorado-students
Colorado Opt Out Billboards
http://www.uniting4kids.com/?na=v&id=4&nk=143-5641f8a865
Connecticut Another Year Delay in Using Student Test Scores to Evaluate Teachers
http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Another-year-reprieve-from-using-test-scores-to-6880221.php
Florida Opting Out a Strong Backlash to Overzealous Standardized Testing
http://www.bradenton.com/opinion/editorials/article64764797.html
Florida Students Start Opting-Out of Standardized Tests
http://weartv.com/news/local/local-students-now-opting-out-of-standarized-tests
Florida Don’t Tie Teacher Bonuses to Their Old College Admissions Exam Scores
http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/ruth-dont-tie-sat-scores-to-teacher-pay/2268675
Georgia Test Reformers Make More Progress in State Legislature
http://www.myajc.com/news/news/local-education/school-testing-opponents-score-another-round-in-th/nqjJD/
Indiana Legislature Kills Current Test But Will Its Replacement Have Lower Stakes?
http://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/with-istep-dead-can-the-new-version-lower-the-stakes
Indiana Misuse of Scores in Test-and-Punish Policies is Major Problem
http://www.journalgazette.net/opinion/columns/A-complex-issue–simplified-11913513
Louisiana Standardized Testing Is Not What Matters
http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/opinion/2016/03/08/voices-standardized-testing-not-important/81479910/
Maine Poised for the Latest Standardized Testing Debacle
http://fromthemiddle.bangordailynews.com/2016/03/11/home/poised-for-the-latest-standardized-testing-debacle/
Maryland Educators Urge State to Test Less
http://www.delmarvanow.com/story/opinion/2016/03/09/column-hammer-20160309/81484110/
Maryland Test Exemption Bill Heard by Legislative Committee
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/continuing_coverage/annapolis_2016/test-exemption-bill-inspired-by-frederick-family-considered-by-house/article_81165dfe-6103-5f0b-80e3-d22d430b0592.html
Maryland Letters to Editor Say Schools Focus Too Much on Testing
http://www.delmarvanow.com/story/opinion/2016/03/14/maryland-schools-focusing-much-testing/81669996/
Massachusetts Administrators Exclude Teachers From Testing Conversation With Parents
http://www.cambridgeday.com/2016/03/10/surprise-exclusion-of-teachers-riles-parents-at-world-cafe-over-effects-of-student-testing/
Massachusetts Tool Kit: How to Organize An Opt-Out House Party
http://www.citizensforpublicschools.org/the-facts-on-opting-out-of-mcas-or-parcc/how-to-organize-an-opt-out-house-party/
New Jersey Schools Post Instructions on How to Refuse State Tests
https://www.tapinto.net/towns/basking-ridge/sections/education/articles/bernards-schools-post-instructions-for-how-to-ref
New York Educator Supported by Opt-Out Groups On Verge of Election as State Ed Chancellor
http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/bronx-educator-with-support-of-opt-out-groups-poised-to-become-new-yorks-chancellor-20160308
New York Why the Opt Out Movement Will Continue to Grow
https://optoutcny.wordpress.com/2016/03/07/the-rest-of-the-story/
New York Mobile Billboard Promotes Opting Out
https://dianeravitch.net/2016/03/12/opt-out-truck/
North Carolina Educators, Activists Pan State’s School Grading System
http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2016/03/15/panel-of-educators-activists-pan-n-c-s-system-of-grading-schools/
Ohio Does State Testing Format Deserve an “F”?
http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2016/03/08/in-state-testing-does-format-earn-an-f/
Oregon Letter Challenges Whether Computerized Test Scores Are Comparable with Pencil-and-Paper Exams
http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20160309/OPINION/160309659
Tennessee Hundreds Plan to Opt Out of State Exams
http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/31447426/41-percent-of-normal-park-opts-out-of-tn-ready-tests
Tennessee State Representative Opts Daughter Out of Testing, Organizes Other Parents
http://www.wbrc.com/story/31419681/lawmaker-wife-to-hold-meeting-for-parents-of-students-looking-to-opt-out-of-testing
Utah New Law Removes Student Test Scores From Teacher Evaluation
http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2016/03/11/pdd-law-passes-removing-sage-test-scores-from-teacher-evaluations/
West Virginia Legislature Passes Bill Affirming Common Core Test Repeal, Bars Opt-Out Punishments
http://wvmetronews.com/2016/03/12/bill-dealing-with-common-core-standardized-testing-on-track-for-passage-by-sessions-end/
International Pension Fund Stockholders Challenge Pearson’s Heavy Reliance on U.S. Testing Business
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/03/10/pension-funds-say-pearson-relies-too-much-on-u-s-testing-business/
ACT/SAT Test Revisions Don’t End Debate on Bias and Inequality in College Admissions Exams
http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/new-sat-gets-better-reviews-from-students-but-doesnt-end-debate-on-testing-bias/
ACT/SAT College Admissions Tests for All Students? One More Bad Idea From Political Elites
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/work_in_progress/2016/03/sats_for_all_one_more_bad_idea.html
ACT/SAT Wells College Admissions Now Test Optional
http://auburnpub.com/news/local/wells-college-admissions-now-test-optional/article_7d730727-7401-5d25-bcad-9db4d12e314e.html
ACT/SAT University of Minnesota Leaders Debate Dropping Admissions Exam Requirement
http://www.mndaily.com/news/campus/2016/03/09/u-leaders-debate-use-act-test
Teaching, Not Testing, Makes Better Students
http://phys.org/news/2016-03-students.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
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Hello Diane,
My name is Quentin Shaffer and I am sophomore at Kutztown University. Majoring in Early Childhood Education and Special Education with a minor in History. I don’t like to rant much or jump on a soapbox because I know it’ll come back to bite me in the bum AND PLEASE NO NEGATIVE COMMENTS IF ANYTHING SHARE AND PASS IT ON and sorry mom but I just found out today that I might have to stay an extra semester because I can’t pass a standardized test (ETS and PAPA) that Pennsylvania requires teachers to take…I’m not the best test taker but with all due respect to the people who make these tests THEY SUCK. I guarantee you that you can stick me or anyone of my classmates in a classroom with children and we would be the most amazing teachers out there. I honestly don’t think a test should determine whether or not you could be a teacher coming out of college. If you have the GPA, the grades, and the correct background checks, and the observation hours done then I think you should be able to move on to your next classes and student teach/PROSEM/get a job after college and not have some lousy test get in the way of that.
We come to college to learn about the children we will teach one day and how to help them become better boys and girls while helping them learn whatever it is we are teaching them. Instead of teaching them how to take tests the tests of your lives; we should teaching them grammar, punctuation, manners, math, etc and getting them ready for the next grade above and so on because when they get out into the real world like we will soon, the interviewers aren’t going to look at your Standardized test scores, SAT scores, PAPA/ETS scores. They sure as heck aren’t going to hope your résumé says “I’m good at taking tests or bad at taking tests”. They’re going to look at your skills, previous job experience, etc. We aren’t paying thousands of dollars a year to take a stupid test that “determines” who makes a good teacher or not.
Quentin, you certainly won’t get any criticism from me. Pasi Sahlberg has written that Finland purposely includes students in their teaching program who are not the best of the best. They realize that there are characteristics that don’t show up in grades or on tests that they look for in their teaching candidates. The current over the top obsession with test scores is hurting students and teachers all over the country. Test taking is a skill: find someone who is good at it and get some help.
Dear Dawn,You’re in great company!!!!😊Joanne
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2016 16:01:29 +0000
To: joannegalla@hotmail.com
Looks like the moratorium in NYS is having the desired effect. The wind is out of the opt-out sail. I don’t think we’ll see anywhere near the 220,000 we had last year.
There doesn’t seem to be the same level of activity here in Illinois either and we are pushing ahead with PARCC tied to teacher evaluation. The only announcement so far seems to be one to appease opposition. Now there is only one testing window, and the test has been reduced by 90 minutes. I had to search for the information about total testing time that is still excessive (over 9 hours in middle school). The district even laid out a prep schedule of 4-5 sessions to familiarize the children with the content and computer format. They added a snippet that teachers add material structured like the tests during regular instructional time. the state put out erroneous information stating that Federal guidelines prohibited opting out. They have since taken down the announcement, but I could find no announcement yet on opt out procedures. We are now heading into Spring break season, so we’ll see what happens in a few weeks. There is still no evidence that the tests do anything they claim to do or that districts and teachers will find them any more useful, so why the quiet?
In their infinite wisdom, NYSED has decided that the Pearson Common Core tests will be “un-timed” this year. Not sure how this will work logistically. Sped students apparently get 1.5 to 2.0 lifetimes.
Principal would never support a teacher that routinely fails 70 – 80% of their students. In fact I have seen principals move such teachers out of their classrooms for doing so. Yet, they support tests that do the same.