Bob Schaeffer of Fairtest writes:
More victories for the assessment reform movement this week as activists move into the policy and electoral arenas: the PARCC consortium votes to reduce testing time; Florida suspends high-stakes for end-of-course exams; Colorado’s governor signs compromise legislation, Wisconsin blocks test-based teacher assessment, and New Yorkers elect many allies to school boards.
National Keep Grassroots Pressure on U.S. Senate to Roll Back Testing Overkill
http://fairtest.org/roll-back-standardized-testing-send-letter-congres
Federal Opt-Out Bill Filed in Congress
http://reed.house.gov/press-release/reed-delauro-testing-%E2%80%9Copt-out%E2%80%9D-proposal-will-empower-parents-help-students-and-protect
Alaska Seeks Educators for Test Review
http://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/state-seeks-educators-for-test-review/article_cec036d2-0116-11e5-a1cf-b3d6a3492a00.html
California Governor Calls for “Balanced” Approach to Testing, Accountability
Gov. Brown calls for ‘balanced’ approach to testing and accountability
Colorado Governor Signs Bill That Modestly Reduces Testing Time
http://gazette.com/hickenlooper-signs-bills-that-reduce-time-colorado-students-spend-testing/article/1552235
Connecticut Most Teachers Say New Test is a Waste of Time
http://blog.ctnews.com/education/2015/05/20/most-teachers-say-new-state-test-is-a-waste-of-time/
Delaware Legislators Oppose Governor’s Emphasis on Testing
http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/education/2015/05/24/lawmakers-fighting-markell-education/27944743/
Florida State Testing Turmoil Continues as High Stakes Suspended for End-of-Course Math Exams
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional-education/state-testing-turmoil-end-of-course-math-exams-won/nmKS6/
Florida Testing Failures: Let Us Count the Ways
http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/floridas-testing-failures-let-us-count-the-ways/2230414
Illinois Should Let Parents Call the Shots on PARCC Test Opt Outs
http://chicago.suntimes.com/editorials-opinion/7/71/625676/editorial-parental-control-desired-state-tests
Maine One Student Testing Battle Won, But the War Continues
http://www.theforecaster.net/news/print/2015/05/25/right-view-student-testing-battle-won-war-continue/233727
Maryland Students Will Take Fewer Tests Next Year
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/education/bs-md-parcc-changes-20150521-story.html
Massachusetts Teachers Have No Voice in Testing, So Why Should They Support It?
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teaching_ahead/2015/05/why-would-teachers-support-testing-when-they-have-no-say.html
New Hampshire Seeks More Testing Flexibility for School Districts
http://www.unionleader.com/article/20150521/NEWS0621/150529719
New Jersey Victory for Testing Reformers Over Testing Time
http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/education/in-our-schools/2015/05/21/parcc-changes/27716777/
New Jersey Should Not Count PARCC Scores While Fixes Unfold
http://www.app.com/story/opinion/editorials/2015/05/26/editorial-count-parcc-fixes-unfold/27951085/
New Mexico Teachers Burn Test-Based Evaluations
http://www.abqjournal.com/587949/news/aps-teachers-burn-their-evals.html
New York Opt-Out Becomes Statewide Rallying Cry
New York May Back Down on Exam Field Tests After Boycott Spreads
New York Test Refusers Win Many School Board Seats
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/parentsandthepublic/2015/05/test_refusal_proponents_win_seats_in_ny_school_board_elections.html
Ohio Teacher to Lawmakers: How Testing Fixation Sucks Life Out of School Day
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2015/05/22/teacher-to-lawmakers-how-our-testing-fixation-sucks-the-life-out-of-the-school-day/
Ohio Advice for Legislature: Testing is Not Teaching
http://highlandcountypress.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=22&ArticleID=27836
Oklahoma Extends Exemptions to Third-Grade Reading Promotion Test
http://kgou.org/post/legislature-approves-extension-reading-test-exemptions
Pennsylvania Teacher Stands Tall in Refusing to Administer State Test
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2015/05/23/Pittsburgh-teacher-stands-alone-by-refusing-to-give-tests/stories/201505250003
Texas STAAR Tests Were Blocking Graduation for 10% of Students
http://keranews.org/post/staar-tests-still-holding-back-10-percent-texas-seniors
Virginia Computerized Exams Interrupted Three Times by Pearson Testing System Problems
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/va-testing-interrupted-three-times-because-of-issues-with-pearson-system/2015/05/20/3243a030-ff38-11e4-8b6c-0dcce21e223d_story.html
Wisconsin Governor Signs Bill Ensuring This Year’s Test Scores Are Not Used Against Teachers or Schools
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/f4ab19d2f1a949c790cd9b554a4e96be/WI–School-Report-Cards
Global Policy Report: Reduce Emphasis on Testing to Promote Student Success
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2015/05/26/global-policy-report-093/
Radar Shows Blowback Against Test-Heavy School Policies
http://johnyoungcolumn.blogspot.com/2015/05/radar-shows-blowback-against-test-heavy.html
Q & A With Sir Ken Robinson: “If I had a kid in school right now, I think I would be opting out, too.”
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2015/05/20/qa-with-sir-ken-robinson.html
Accountability From Above Never Works
http://www.salon.com/2015/05/24/education_reformers_have_it_all_wrong_accountability_from_above_never_works_great_teaching_always_does/
Poverty, Family Stress Are Thwarting Student Success, Top Teachers Say
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/poverty-family-stress-are-thwarting-student-success-top-teachers-say/2015/05/19/17f2e35a-fe3c-11e4-833c-a2de05b6b2a4_story.html
Allegheny College Joins 850+ Other Schools in Dropping ACT/SAT Testing Requirements
Allegheny College Admissions To Go Test Optional Starting with Class Entering in Fall 2016
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 
I appreciate this report. A regular report on where we are winning in legislation and on the political front would be very much appreciated. This really feels like a war. Was New York able to pass the bill requiring districts to notify parents of their right to opt out?
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There are reports that today Chris Christie may pull back on Common Core support. Due to give a speech today.
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He did it! Christie pulls out of Common Core!! This will have a domino effect among Republican Presidential hopefuls. http://7online.com/education/gov-chris-christie-calls-for-end-of-common-core-in-new-jersey/746353/
This is great great news! Now can we get Hillary to get some common sense and also distance herself from this horrible and detrimental reform that intellectually bullies children????? Hillary be smart!
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It’s just that the name has become toxic to the right – it’s synonymous with gubmint overreach. But states that have so far pulled out of it (aside from the ones who refused to join in the first place), have just rebranded Common Core under a new name or replaced it with something worse.
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Actually I move in right and left circles ( I have an appreciation for diversity) and I’m certain that many Repubs still respect his record and no nonsense approach to things. His scandals pale in comparison to the scandals of our recent line of Presidents. The press seems more intrigued by it than actual members of his party. Is he Presidential material ? That is up for debate but does he have clout in the party? Most certainly.
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It will be Bernie Sanders who will speak out about CC and mega testing. Hillary will follow the money…as she always has.
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Christie also calls for new reform that includes “input from teachers”. This is a significant statement to make in public. Several are still under the impression that teachers wrote the test. The press coverage on this alone will help deepen the roots of the movement and boost publicity. It is a big win.
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Rosanne…although I applaud your enthused joy over this Christie statement, and I hope it is his true belief, nevertheless, he is trying to revive his campaign after Bridgegate. Here is an instance where he is courting liberal Repubs, and some Dems, in this moment where the fall guy he appointed to take the blame, was just indicted, This announcement by the anger-challenged Guv of NJ is a set up to deflect the public from the Bridge episode. Nothing else, IMO.
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