This is FairTest’s weekly report:

 

Happy 2016 ! Across the U.S., the grassroots testing reform movement is gearing up to win more victories in the coming year. Look for larger, broader opt-out campaigns focusing more pressure on state and local policy-makers to roll back standardized exam overkill and enable better forms of assessment.

 

 

National Six Reasons Students Could Face Less Standardized Testing This Year
http://www.takepart.com/article/2015/12/29/6-reasons-your-kid-could-have-less-standardized-testing-2016
National New K-12 Law Adds to Policy Change Buzz as State Legislatures Convene
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2016/01/06/new-k-12-law-adds-to-buzz-as.html
National New Year’s Toast to Resignation of “Testocracy Tsar” Arne Duncan
http://www.progressive.org/news/2016/01/188484/arne-duncan-testocracy-tsar-educational-alchemist-corporate-lackey
National Meet the New Federal Ed. Boss, Much the Same as the Old Boss
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/01/02/why-the-new-education-secretary-is-a-lightning-rod/

 

Alabama Teachers Deserve Better Evaluation Than Just Test Scores
http://www.oanow.com/opinion/editorials/our-view-teachers-deserve-better-evaluation-than-simply-test-scores/article_a18da45c-b1a5-11e5-b7fa-0b6becff101c.html

 

California New Year Brings Focus on Technical Problems With Standardized Tests
http://www.scpr.org/news/2015/12/29/56557/new-year-brings-a-focus-on-tech-problems-with-stan/

 

Colorado Test Opt Outs Were a Top Story of 2015
http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/no-8-story-of-2015-students-opt-out-of-standardize

 

Connecticut Superintendents Criticize State Funding Threat for Districts With Low Test Participation
http://www.myrecordjournal.com/southington/southingtonnews/8228358-129/local-superintendents-critical-of-testing-penalties.html

 

Delaware Test Critics Gear Up to Override Governor’s Opt-Out Veto
http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/education/2016/01/04/opt-out-veto/78270050/

 

Florida Ending NCLB Is Not Enough, State Must End Its Own Test Misuse and Overuse
http://www.tcpalm.com/opinion/editorials/another-view-dont-celebrate-end-of-no-child-left-behind-25ffd3f8-90dd-1c2f-e053-0100007f8fc3-363747301.html

 

Georgia Teacher “Merit Pay” Could Go Down in Flames
http://www.myajc.com/news/news/local-education/merit-pay-could-go-down-in-flames/npt9C/

 

Indiana State Super Endorses “Hold Harmless” Plan for School Grades
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/ritz-endorses-gop-senator-s-hold-harmless-plan-for-school/article_910d04fa-2854-5ea4-a2db-83b643212074.html

 

Missouri Superintendent Makes School Turnaround Progress by Focusing on Poverty Above All Else
http://www.ktoo.org/2016/01/03/superintendent-turned-around-school-district/

New Jersey Testing Will Again Be a Major Legislative Issue
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/16/01/03/looking-ahead-unresolved-matters-and-new-issues-will-mark-year-in-education/

 

New Mexico What”s the Grade for Standardized Testing
http://www.taosnews.com/news/article_fba8adce-af48-11e5-b696-ef88dc8995e9.html
New Mexico The Making of an Opt-Out Leader
http://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/education/lcps/2016/01/03/movers-shakers-valdez-speaks-out-against-testing/78150496/

New York Opting Out and Voting Them Out
https://www.facebook.com/alan.c.schwartz.3/videos/10153795400742889/?fref=nf
After Test Score Moratorium, School Districts Retool Teacher Evaluation
http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2015/12/8586519/after-test-score-moratorium-school-districts-retool-teacher-evaluatio
New York Opt-Out Leader Named Local “Person of the Year”
http://liherald.com/stories/Jeanette-Deutermann-Mother-activist-education-reformer,75193?page=1&content_source=

Oklahoma Area Schools Applaud Reduced Federal Role in Testing
http://www.ardmoreite.com/article/20160103/NEWS/151229750

 

Tennessee Value-Added Testing Adds No Value to Public Schools
http://www.knoxnews.com/opinion/columnists/tillie-elvrum-value-added-test-offers-no-value-to-schools-2615c071-d660-0db8-e053-0100007f21c0-363945251.html

 

Texas New Opt-Out Form for Houston Public School Parents
http://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2016/01/04/132253/want-to-opt-out-from-standardized-testing-theres-a-form-for-that/

 

West Virginia Pressure Forces Testing Task Force Meetings Open to the Public
http://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/20160104/in-reversal-wv-superintendent-opens-testing-meetings-to-public

 

“The Test: Why Our Schools Are Obsessed With Standardized Testing — But You Don’t Have to Be” now out in paperback
http://smile.amazon.com/Test-Schools-Obsessed-Standardized-Testing-But/dp/1610396014/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0

 

How Tests Should and Should Not Be Used
https://www.facebook.com/647356845410265/photos/a.652051711607445.1073741828.647356845410265/783992738413341/

 

Stop All the Testing in Math and Set Free a New Generation of American Mathematicians
http://hechingerreport.org/save-american-mathematics-and-set-students-free/

 

 

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