Opposition to the testing madness of the Bush-Obama administrations continues to escalate, as parents, teachers, and student react to excessive testing across the nation.
Here is the Fairtest update:
An increasing number of stories report criticism of Common Core tests and rising opposition to other high-stakes standardized exams. This week’s clips include updates from 20 states, several excellent commentaries and links to important reports.
The Gathering Resistance to Standardized Testing
http://www.alternet.org/education/gathering-resistance-standardized-tests
State Political Rifts Sap Support for Common Core Exams
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2014/05/07/30tests.h33.html
The Cost of Our Testing Obsession
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/costs-testing-obsession-article-1.1785275
Why a Common Core Testing Moratorium is Needed . . . Now!
http://www.fairtest.org/common-core-assessments-factsheet
Competitor Sues to Overturn Pearson’ s Common Core Testing Contract
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/marketplacek12/2014/05/american_institutes_for_research_challenges_pearson_common-core_testing_award_in_court.html
Pearson’s History of Testing Problems
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/05/06/a-history-of-pearsons-testing-problems-worldwide/
Test Expert: Most California Schools Not Ready for Common Core Exams
http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20140507/NEWS12/305060040/Test-expert-Most-schools-not-ready
Tryout of New California Test Plagued by Computer Problems
http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-new-tests-20140512-story.html#page=1
Common Core Testing Raises Question About Who Is in Charge of Connecticut Education
http://ctmirror.org/op-ed-common-core-raises-question-who-is-in-charge-of-education/
Florida Governor Approves One-Year Pause on School Grading Consequences
http://www.news4jax.com/news/scott-approves-1year-pause-on-school-grades/25951312
Student Testing a Major Issue in Idaho School Chief Election
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/may/08/rivals-idaho-schools-chief-differ-student-testing/
Illinois Suburbs Push Back Against Testing
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/education/ct-school-ratings-overhaul-sidebar-met-20140511,0,478278.story
Louisiana Tax Dollars at Work: Training Teachers to Administer High-Stakes Tests Which Grade Their “Effectiveness”
http://wwno.org/post/back-school-training-teachers-give-high-stakes-tests
http://wwno.org/post/behind-test-using-test-scores-grade-teachers
Why Standardized Testing is Ruining Maine Schools, Hurting Our Kids
Why standardized testing is ruining our schools, hurting our kids
Massachusetts Teachers Union Elects Strong Foe of High-Stakes Testing as President
http://www.gazettenet.com/home/11920874-95/barbara-madeloni-of-northampton-foe-of-standardized-testing-elected-president-of-110000-member-massa
A Fairer Test Score Measure for Massachusetts
http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2014/05/06/fairer-test-score-measure/sjpTO5mv9hldIrfUxLC2rJ/story.html
Common Core Field Testing Seen as Another Unfunded Massachusetts State Mandate
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140509/PUB04/405080312/1040
Parents Boycott New Jersey ASK Test
http://tri.gmnews.com/news/2014-05-08/Opinion/Parents_boycott_NJ_ASK_test.html
How to Refuse New Jersey Tests for Your Child
http://thealternativepress.com/articles/misinformation-and-half-truths-is-this-what-we-h
Student: Standardized Tests Taking a Toll in New Mexico Classrooms
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/life/teen/are-standardized-exams-taking-a-toll-in-the-classroom/article_c0064cf3-f1d4-5576-bca7-1b7747a2bd44.html
A Conversation About Tests New York Teachers Can’t Have
The Pseudo-Science of New York’s Common Core Tests
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alan-singer/common-core-pseudoscience_b_5280441.html
Ohio Teachers Seek Three-Year Delay in High-Stakes Testing
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/05/10/ohio-teachers-union-wants-delay-in-high-stakes-testing.html
Oklahoma Legislature Passes Bill Giving Parents a Voice in Overruling Grade Promotion Test
Testing Expert: Oregon’s Assessments Should Be Designed by Local Educators
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/05/student_assessments_should_be.html
Oregon Teachers Seek Common Core Testing Moratorium
http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2014/05/oregon_teachers_union_calls_fo.html
They’ll Never Catch Pennsylvania’s Worst Test Cheating Culprits — Politicians Who Mandate High-Stakes Exams
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/attytood/Theyll-never-catch-the-real-culprits.html#IQAktHH1XgkwVvho.99
Philadelphia “Culture of Cheating” Reflects Standardized Exam Misuse
http://news.yahoo.com/principal-teachers-face-criminal-charges-philadelphia-test-scandal-202509850.html
Different Value-Added Systems Produce Wide-Range of Results in Pittsburgh Schools
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2014/05/12/Pittsburgh-Public-Schools-state-use-different-formulas-to-calculate-value-added-by-schools/stories/201405120068
Rhode Island School Board Resists Mounting Pressure to End Graduation Test
http://www.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/content/20140512-r.i.-board-of-education-stays-with-necap-as-graduation-requirement.ece
Nashville Tennessee to Take Up Anti-Testing Resolution
http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2014/05/09/nashville-board-will-take-anti-testing-measure/8903165/
Another Test Cheating Probe in the Home of the “Texas Miracle” Which Begat “No Child Left Behind”
http://blog.chron.com/k12zone/2014/05/teachers-at-2nd-hisd-school-face-firing-in-cheating-probe/
Texas Teacher Evaluation Earns a Failing Grade
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outlook/article/Lee-Sridharan-Sung-HISD-gets-a-failing-gradede-5460933.php
Are Texas Children Allowed to Read for Pleasure Any More?
http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2014/may/10/ys_education_matters_051114_239099/?features
Virginia Parents Start Organizing Opt Out Campaign
http://www.nbc12.com/story/25497436/sol-opt-out
How NCLB Waiver Revocation Will Hurt Washington State Schools
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/05/08/how-students-will-be-affected-by-federal-revocation-of-washingtons-nclb-waiver/
Obama-Duncan Testing Policies Contradict Their Own High-Sounding Statements
http://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2014/05/06/tm-ntoy-obama-evaluation.html?cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS2
New Study Casts Doubt on Rating Teachers by Students’ Test Scores
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/good-teaching-poor-test-scores-doubt-cast-on-grading-teachers-by-student-performance/2014/05/12/96d94812-da07-11e3-bda1-9b46b2066796_story.html
Standardized Testing Focus is Part of 19th Century Model of Education
http://www.centredaily.com/2014/05/13/4176028/henry-g-brzycki-why-standardized.html?sp=/99/145/
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
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Reblogged this on Schools of Thought Hudson Valley, NY.
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Sent from my iPad
>
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Reblogged this on Transparent Christina and commented:
Will Delaware join the Chorus? It’s a matter of CHOICE.
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Very important work being done by FairTest. Hope it can continue.
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The tide has finally turned. The tsunami of opposition will drown the CC reform after PARCC and SBAC rollout in 2015. Maybe sooner.
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Gates and Co. created the monster, The townspeople, pitchforks in hand, are now tracking it down.
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Oh, my. Someone was busy. 🙂
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In time, of course, it will be the consensus view that NCLB and Son of NCLB summative standardized testing was invalid, abusive, horrifically distorting of curricula and pedagogy, and based upon an extraordinarily backward extrinsic-punishment-and-reward model for education. The question is, how much damage will have to be done first?
One thing is certain. Those leading the current deforms and those collaborating with the deforms will be looked back upon in horror and with anger, as we now look back on those who pushed the American Indian Boarding Schools of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
We’ve now forgotten the names of those deformers of yesteryear, but I don’t think we’ll forget the names of the ones pushing these current deforms on the nation. The damage that they are doing becomes clearer each day, and it affects almost everyone with kid (not, of course, oligarchs with kids, for their children have been spared this crap).
Their names will live in infamy.
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Their names may live in infamy but in this life they will continue being free to travel about and earn the kind of dollars they expect to earn from their “expertise”. No prosecutions, no payback, no nuthin!
Oh, that they’d live in infamy now!
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Hurray — and thank you Diane for magnify and spreading this issue. This week in Chicago we have the NWEA tests and my 2nd grader (age 7) said to me on Monday morning “thanks CPS for ruining my week!”
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Kim–Opt out! And get SO many other parents at your school to do it that CPS will NOT be able to give you any backlash! In fact, get something started at ALL the other schools, as well.
Slay the test dragon & Save Our Schools/Students.
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Great news, Diana, and kudos to YOU! How are you feeling? A bit better each day, I hope!
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Thanks, Shelley, for the good wishes and patience with my errors.
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P.S.–Saying it for Todd Farley, “I told you so!” (If you haven’t yet read his 2009 book, Making the Grades: My Misadventures in the Standardized Testing Industry, you MUST. Too bad nothing’s changed since 2009–in fact, it’s worse. NOW is the time to stop this!
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And now, for your listening pleasure this evening, I give you
Arne Dunkin’ and the Test-tots-ster-tones
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My kids just went through this testing and many other parents decided to opt out. I am considering doing the same next year. I have been doing a lot of research about all this testing and some of it just doesn’t seem to make sense. We need to focus more on developing individual skills and preparing kids to be productive people in the modern job market.
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