Here is Bob Schaeffer’s weekly update on the latest news about testing.

As the assessment reform movement monitors Capitol Hill where a congressional conference committee will soon take up the rewrite of “No Child Left Behind,” pressure to cut back testing volume and reduce high-stakes consequences continues to build at the grassroots. Be sure to check out the excellent new public education resources available for your local campaigns listed at the end of the news clips.

National How Changes in the Federal Education Law Might Cut Testing Time
http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2015/07/22/414905874/how-the-big-new-education-law-could-cut-testing-time
National Still Need to Eliminate Annual Testing Mandate
http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/7/71/799513/counterpoint-13

Multiple States Are the PARCC Consortium Exams Toast?
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/state_edwatch/2015/07/parcc_common_core_testing_shifting_strategy_and_landscape.html

California Top Education Official Plans Multi-Dimensional State Accountability System
http://www.dailynews.com/social-affairs/20150722/californias-top-education-official-plans-new-accountability-system-to-rate-schools

Colorado More Students Than Ever Opted Out of Spring Testing
http://co.chalkbeat.org/2015/07/27/after-widespread-test-protests-last-fall-even-fewer-colorado-students-took-spring-tests/#.Vba_SZdLUZx
Colorado Test Scores Don’t Reflect Student Learning or Teacher Commitment
http://gazette.com/letters-scores-dont-reflect-knowledge-dont-need-vigilantes-on-guard/article/1556278

Delaware Opt-Out Supporters Regroup to Overcome Governor’s Veto
http://www.doverpost.com/article/20150722/NEWS/150729951

Florida School Testing is Like an Old Saturday Night Live Skit
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/opinion/columnists/fl-jvcol-oped0724-20150723-column.html

Georgia Superintendent Rolls Back Some State Testing Requirements
http://onlineathens.com/local-news/2015-07-28/georgia-eases-teacher-testing-rules-now

Massachusetts Debate About Three-Year Moratorium on High-Stakes Exams
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/north/2015/07/23/the-argument-should-state-put-three-year-moratorium-high-stakes-testing/RnJxWkdm9aSAKKHcrX3ZtK/story.html

Michigan New State Schools Chief Favors Fewer Tests
http://www.thetimesherald.com/story/news/local/2015/07/23/call-less-student-testing-resounds-local-school-officials/30574303/

Minnesota Scores Delayed After Year of Exam Disruptions
http://www.sctimes.com/story/news/local/2015/07/27/results-schools-mca-exams-delayed/30736637/

Missouri New Exams Causing Unexpected Test Score Reporting Delay
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/waiting-for-your-child-s-state-test-scores-new-exams/article_e0d9daa4-95e8-5c28-a89e-821865543835.html

New Jersey State Senate Passes Opt-Out Resolution
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/15/07/26/senate-democrats-craft-nonbinding-resolution-for-parcc-opt-outs/

New York State Ed Chancellor Would “Think Twice” Before Subjecting Child With Severe Disability to State Testing
http://ny.chalkbeat.org/2015/07/20/tisch-id-think-twice-before-opting-into-state-testing-if-i-had-a-special-needs-child/#.Va5vvJdLUZy
New York Chancellor Tish Should be Held Accountable for Testing Abuse of Children With Disabilities
https://dianeravitch.net/2015/07/23/tanis-kilfoyle-regent-tisch-must-be-accountable-for-test-abuse-of-children-with-disabilities/

Pennsylvania Analysis Shows Strong Link Between Poverty and Test Scores
http://republicanherald.com/news/school-analysis-shows-link-between-poverty-academic-performance-in-schuylkill-county-1.1918045
Pennsylvania Testing Mandates Have Narrowed Student Learning
http://lancasteronline.com/opinion/columnists/testing-mandates-have-narrowed-our-children-s-learning/article_9576eed4-315e-11e5-b097-372786251e51.html

Rhode Island Teacher Survey Shows Negative Response to PARCC Tests
https://dianeravitch.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/riteachers_responses_to_parcc-2.pdf

Texas Local Civil Rights Activists Split Over Standardized Testing
http://www.texasobserver.org/civil-rights-groups-split-over-standardized-testing-opt-out/

Vermont State Leaders Seek Change in Education Testing Standards
http://www.timesargus.com/article/20150723/THISJUSTIN/707239929

Virginia State Seeks Feedback From Parents About School Performance Reports
http://www.roanoke.com/news/state-asks-parents-for-feedback-on-school-performance-reports/article_49d39698-60a7-55c1-bfdf-638e26a9c991.html

George Washington University Joins Rapidly Growing Ranks of Test-Optional Colleges
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2015/07/27/george-washington-university-applicants-no-longer-need-to-take-admissions-tests/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2015/07/27/bombed-the-sat-or-the-act-here-are-colleges-that-are-test-optional/

Parents Across America Decries Student Abuse From Test-Related Stress
http://parentsacrossamerica.org/paa-position-paper-parents-stand-test-stress/

New Book by “Rog” Lucido — Returning Sanity to the Classroom:Eliminating the Testing Mania
http://www.livingindialogue.com/rog-lucidos-new-book-restoring-sanity-to-the-classroom/

“Education Inc.” Shines Spotlight on Dark Money Beyond Corporate “Reforms”
https://dianeravitch.net/2015/07/27/education-inc-a-stunning-documentary-about-the-dark-money-behind-reform/

“Defies Measurement” Shows How U.S. Is Failing Its Public Schools
http://sandiegofreepress.org/2015/07/how-america-is-failing-its-schools/

Education “Reform” Is Malpractice
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-nelson/education-reform-is-malpr_b_7847910.html

Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing

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