Here is the weekly update on the testing front. With so much popular sentiment opposing the testing mania, it is only a matter of time until some rising politicians figure out that this is a movement in search of leadership in the political arena:
The school year is barely underway, but testing resistance and reform actions are already escalating across the nation. In an attempt to slow the momentum and maintain the test-and-punish status quo, state and federal politicians continue to push back deadlines for implementing new exams and suspend punitive consequences. But parents, educators, students, community leaders and local officials will not relent until there is genuine assessment reform, ending standardized exam misuse and overuse.
If you have not done so already, be sure to read FairTest’s new report “Testing Reform Victories: The First Wave.” It is linked in the first story
Assessment Reform Movement Grows and Wins Successes Nationally
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/09/08/anti-testing-movement-growing-finding-success-around-country/
There’s Something Happening Here
http://takingnote.learningmatters.tv/?p=7172
Connecticut Suspends School Rating System
http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Connecticut-school-ranking-system-on-temporary-5732271.php?
Connecticut Governor, Seeking Reelection, Proposed Slight Reduction in Testing Time
http://wnpr.org/post/should-connecticut-students-spend-less-time-taking-tests
Florida County Rescinds “Opt Out” Vote But Moves Forward Against Test Misuse and Overuse
http://www.nbc-2.com/story/26424882/lee-countys-opt-out-vote-rescinded-3-2#.VAYx6RYXNrs
Lee County Schools Crammed With Exams — Tests Administered on Every Day of the Academic Year
http://www.news-press.com/story/news/education/2014/09/07/opt-fallout-lee-schools-crammed-exams/15218495/
Testing Revolt Brews in Florida as Miami Superintendent Calls for “Pause” in School Accountability Testing
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/09/06/testing-revolt-brews-in-florida-as-miami-schools-chief-urges-delay-in-new-exams/
Kindergarten Testing in Florida: More Politically-Driven Madness
http://tbo.com/list/news-opinion-commentary/kathleen-oropeza-more-testing-madness-in-florida-schools-20140831/
Georgia Suspends Test-Based Grades For At Least One Year
http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/section/6/article/104154/
Georgia’s System to Grade Teachers is Paralyzing
http://onlineathens.com/breaking-news/2014-09-05/state-system-grade-teachers-paralyzing-lanoue-says
New Tests Leave Indiana Teachers Scrambling
http://www.jconline.com/story/news/education/2014/09/02/new-standards-send-teachers-scrambling/14988497/
Group Tackles Indiana Education Issues
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20140906/LOCAL/309069957/1002/LOCAL
Excessive Testing Hurts Iowa Students
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/abetteriowa/2014/09/05/excessive-testing-hurts-iowa-children/15124973/
“Less Testing, More Learning” Campaign Launched in Massachusetts
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Less-Testing-More-Learning-MA/815433301809064
Which Tests Should Minnesota Cut Back
Student tests: Should Minnesota drop some (and if so, which?) — or maybe use two in tandem?
New Hampshire District Tries to Opt Out of New Test
http://nhpr.org/post/state-manchester-smarter-balanced-test-not-optional
New Jersey Teachers Union Call to Scale Back Testing
http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/09/a_union_call_to_scale_back_school_testing_guest_opinion.html
Validity of New Mexico Teacher Evaluation System is Challenged
http://krwg.org/post/validity-teacher-evaluation-system-questioned
New York School Supers Blast State’s Test-Based Teacher Grades
http://www.theislandnow.com/great_neck/school-supers-blast-state-s-teacher-grades/article_6029dde4-3444-11e4-bb0c-001a4bcf887a.html
Ohio Teacher: I Can No Longer Throw My Students to the Testing Wolves
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/09/05/teacher-no-longer-can-i-throw-my-students-to-the-testing-wolves/
Oklahoma Standardized Exams Have Failed the Test of Time
http://hennesseyclipper.com/standardized-testing-has-failed-the-test-p7535-91.htm
Oklahoma City Schools Chief Wants Third Grade Promotion Test Law Repealed
http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/OKC-schools-head-says-repeal-3rd-grade-reading-law-5738229.php
Pennsylvania Principals Question Role of Test Scores in Evaluation Process
http://triblive.com/neighborhoods/yourallekiskivalley/yourallekiskivalleymore/6688313-74/evaluation-test-principals#ixzz3CNwRZvXT
Rhode Island Begins Review of Student Over-Testing
http://www.providencejournal.com/news/education/20140902-gist-and-educators-look-into-the-issue-of-over-testing-students.ece
Exit Exam No Longer a Hurdle to Getting a South Carolina High School Diploma
http://www.carolinalive.com/news/story.aspx?id=1092507#.VAj6qBYXNrs
University of Texas Professor Debunks Standardized Testing
http://www.texasobserver.org/walter-stroup-standardized-testing-pearson/
Texas Mimics New York in Pushing Back Test Consequences
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/state_edwatch/2014/09/texas_mimics_ny_state_in_pushing.html
Utah Schools Prepare for “Failing” Grades From New Tests
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865610338/Are-you-ready-for-your-childs-school-to-get-a-failing-grade.html
Back to School Advice: Opt Out of High-Stakes Exams
http://www.livingindialogue.com/back-school-advice-opt-high-stakes-standardized-testing/
Education is Not a Business
http://www.yourwestvalley.com/opinion/article_80f595a0-3457-11e4-b1af-001a4bcf887a.html
(Mis)Using Tests for the Wrong Purposes
http://pdk.sagepub.com/content/96/1/46.full
Holding Kids Back Does Not Help Them Academically
http://theconversation.com/keeping-children-back-a-year-doesnt-help-them-read-better-30584
Dickens and Standardized Testing
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-breslin/dickens-and-standardized-testing_b_5760932.html
States That Lose NLCB Waivers Are Boon for Test Coaching Companies
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/marketplacek12/2014/08/waiver_setbacks_spell_more_business_potential_for_tutoring_companies.html
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 
I hope someone with graphic skills can plot all of these opt out and related actions on a dynamic interactive map. If Fair Test has an angel or any big data guru, these reports could be plotted on a timeline and be organized by categories such who is initiating the opt out, size of that group, whether the action has been killed or is still on the books. There is public domain software for this representation. I am not a techie, but the prototype appeared on TED with several demonstrations by a sociologist , first name Hans… That representation could help to inspire a movement in a way that lists and blogs cannot.
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Hans Rowling brilliant use of UNESCO data on poverty, among other projects.
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All this and the PARCC/SBAC train wreck has yet to hit the station. The financial costs, opportunity costs, human resource and morale costs, are incalculable. Not to mention the joy and excitement never experienced. All for what?
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