Bob Schaeffer of Fairtest reports:
The pace of assessment reform news accelerates as back-to-school season begins. Note the geographic breadth of the rapidly growing high-stakes testing resistance with stories from 17 states and the District of Columbia just this week. There are also several very good commentaries.
Remaking Accountability in California: Moving Beyond Test Scores
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/state_edwatch/2014/08/remaking_accountability_in_california_.html
The Failure of Washington, DC Test-Driven “Reform”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elaine-weiss/dc-public-schools-education-reform_b_5663113.html
Florida Education Officials Continue Testing Misuse
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/opinion/commentary-florida-education-officials-misusing-te/ngxQk/
Atlanta, Georgia, School Test Cheating Trial Gets Underway: Understanding the Context
http://atlantaforward.blog.ajc.com/2014/08/10/aps-cheating-trial-begins/
http://news.yahoo.com/12-atlanta-educators-face-trial-widespread-cheating-scandal-142245023.html
Indiana Accepts $3Million in CTB/McGraw-Hill Test Foul-Up Settlement
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/indiana-agrees-3m-settlement-school-test-hitch-24866573
Louisiana Governor Seeks Injunction to Block Use of Common Core Assessments
http://www.nola.com/education/baton-rouge/index.ssf/2014/08/bobby_jindal_seeks_court_injun.html
New Jersey Board of Ed Reduces Role of Test Scores in Teacher Evaluation
http://www.nj.com/education/2014/08/nj_state_board_of_education_changes_much-criticized_teacher_evaluation_formula.html
New Mexico Teachers Seek Common Core Exam Delay; Development of Better Assessments
http://www.sfreporter.com/santafe/article-9035-tank-the-tests.html
Parent, Educator Pressure Forces Release of Half of New York State Test Questions
http://www.pressconnects.com/story/news/education/2014/08/06/test-results-released/13690075/
On School Exam Transparency, New York Fails Test
http://www.citylimits.org/conversations/265/testing-and-transparency
New York Teachers Demonstrate Against Pearson Testing Contract
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Teachers-use-Occupy-tactics-to-score-points-5682534.php
Time to Ditch North Carolina’s School Grading Gimmickry
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/08/11/5100568/dont-just-delay-ditch-a-f-grades.html#.U-o0RBaumNx
Ohio Educators Protest “Toxic” Standardized Exams
http://www.stowsentry.com/latest%20headlines/2014/08/05/teachers-union-protests-standardized-tests-in-columbus
Oklahoma Attorney General Investigates CTB/McGraw-Hill Standardized Exam Administration Problems
http://www.theadanews.com/statenews/x197382992/Okla-AG-opens-inquiry-into-standardized-test-woes
Rhode Island Student Advocates Affirm Value of Grad Test Moratorium
http://www.providencejournal.com/news/education/20140806-ri-groups-affirm-necap-moratorium-is-necessary-after-board-of-ed-chief-said-system-worked-fine.ece
Nashville, Tennessee Eliminates District-Mandated Standardized Exam
http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2014/08/11/metro-schools-stop-requiring-tcap-practice-test/13933205/
Statewide Texas Candidates Seek Testing Reduction
http://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/story-your-local-election-hq/d/story/van-de-putte-calls-for-reducing-high-stakes-testin/36688/zsB6GNeuEEyuDGy41bS9Qw
Good Luck Explaining the Current Texas Public School Accountability Rating System
http://educationblog.dallasnews.com/2014/08/explaining-the-texas-public-school-accountability-rating-system-good-luck-on-that.html/
Vermont Ed. Commissioner Dissects “No Child Left Behind” Flaws in Letter to Parents of “Failing” Schools
Virginia Testing is Leaving Too Many Students Behind
http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/article/20140808/OPINION/140809320/1065&template=fairfaxTimes
Local Activist and Students Organize to Overhaul Virginia SOL Tests
“No Child Left Behind” Fails to Help Washington State Students
Commentary: No Child Left Behind Act — How a federal law is failing schools
New NEA Leader: Revolt, Ignore Stupid Reforms
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/08/11/new-nea-leader-to-nations-educators-revolt-ignore-stupid-reforms/
Testing is a Lousy Way to Hold Schools Accountable
http://www.gazettextra.com/20140811/jason_stanford_testing_is_a_lousy_way_to_hold_schools_accountable
Standardized Exams Take Away Valuable Classroom Learning Time
http://www.abqjournal.com/443122/riowest/standardized-testing-takes-away-valuable-classroom-learning.html
School Testing May Be Driving Parents Away From Engagement with Their Children’s Schools
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2014/08/07/is-school-testing-driving-parents-away-from-their-childs-school/
How to Fix Test-Driven Kindergartens
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/08/07/ten-ways-to-fix-the-mess-that-is-kindergarten/
Video Games as a New Form of Teaching, Learning and Assessment
http://www.npr.org/blogs/ed/2014/08/07/337129961/tests-that-look-like-video-games
The Sordid History of Standardized Tests: Sorting and Ranking
http://www.livingindialogue.com/ranking-sorting-real-purpose-standards-tests/
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 
Here is another good article, but I would change the title to read:
War Against Science, Children, and Common Sense!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alan-singer/common-cores-war-against-_b_5671496.html
All of these articles continue to present the reality that children have become the scapegoats of society, which illustrates how dysfunctional our society has become. A good book that presents this well is Childism, by Swiss psychiatrist Elizabeth Young-Bruhl.
Thank you Diane for continuing to gather support and truth against the ignorance and injustice that is destroying public education.
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Posted on Texas Parents Opt Out:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Texas-Parents-Opt-Out-of-State-Tests/121316371311714
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Reblogged this on David R. Taylor-Thoughts on Texas Education.
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Diane: One other move toward reducing testing emphasis was taken by the Oklahoma PTA organization in July. The link is:
http://www.okpta.org/2014/07/20/oklahoma-pta-demands-moratorium-high-stakes-testing/
Thanks.
Howard Kuchta Lawton, Oklahoma
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http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/08/12/New-York-s-GOP-Candidate-Rob-Astorino-Submits-Stop-Common-Core-Ballot-Line-Petition
We seeing a growing trend for more politicians to have a “Stop Common Core” platform…..about time!
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Unfortunately that growing trend is bringing out some Charlatans, like this one who iis running for gov of Texas:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/09/greg-abbott-common-core_n_5571795.html
Unfortunately, Greg Abbott and other politicians in Texas, are playing on the public ignorance of Common Core vs TEKS. Texas implemented a voluntary set of Common Core equivalent standards called TEKS, with the same crappy material and invalid Pearson designed STAAR tests.
Greg Abbott is aware of the testing obsession this has created in Texas, with 8 year old children forced to take two consecutive days of STAAR insanity for four hour testing sessions each day. He is aware of the kill and drill boot camp indoctrination of STAAR throughout the state, that is causing veteran teachers to abandon their profession in masses. Texas educators have pointed out to Greg Abbott that STAAR is not a valid test, and is designed for children to fail, yet he has ignored educators and professionals who have expertise, and only listens to the “good ole boy” Republicans in the network of Rick Perry & co. He has allowed some creepy religious groups to get control of textbook committees and promote their twisted charter schools.
Greg Abbott has supported, promoted, and is in bed with Pearson lobbyists in Texas. Along with his BBF Bill Hammond, who has a conflict as President of Texas Business Assoc and Pearson lobbyist, they will destroy public education in Texas, all the while singing the mantra of stopping Common Core.
Common Core is the least of our worries in Texas! Greg Abbott is.
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