RAVITCH: Anti-testing Momentum Grows --links to stories of states fighting back
It is heartening to see bipartisan resistance to a national policy that is the result of bipartisan corruption.
Hopefully, bottom up democracy can force Washington to stop selling our kids futures like pork bellies to the hedge fund managers who see education privatization as their next bubble.
by dianeravitch
Opposition to the testing madness of the Bush-Obama administrations continues to escalate, as parents, teachers, and student react to excessive testing across the nation.
An increasing number of stories report criticism of Common Core tests and rising opposition to other high-stakes standardized exams. This week's clips include updates from 20 states, several excellent commentaries and links to important reports.
The Gathering Resistance to Standardized Testing
http://www.alternet.org/education/gathering-resistance-standardized-tests
State Political Rifts Sap Support for Common Core Exams
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2014/05/07/30tests.h33.html
The Cost of Our Testing Obsession
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/costs-testing-obsession-article-1.1785275
Why a Common Core Testing Moratorium is Needed . . . Now!
http://www.fairtest.org/common-core-assessments-factsheet
Competitor Sues to Overturn Pearson' s Common Core Testing Contract
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/marketplacek12/2014/05/american_institutes_for_research_challenges_pearson_common-core_testing_award_in_court.html
Pearson's History of Testing Problems
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/05/06/a-history-of-pearsons-testing-problems-worldwide/
Test Expert: Most California Schools Not Ready for Common Core Exams
http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20140507/NEWS12/305060040/Test-expert-Most-schools-not-ready
Tryout of New California Test Plagued by Computer Problems
http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-new-tests-20140512-story.html#page=1
Common Core Testing Raises Question About Who Is in Charge of Connecticut Education
http://ctmirror.org/op-ed-common-core-raises-question-who-is-in-charge-of-education/
Florida Governor Approves One-Year Pause on School Grading Consequences
http://www.news4jax.com/news/scott-approves-1year-pause-on-school-grades/25951312
Student Testing a Major Issue in Idaho School Chief Election
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/may/08/rivals-idaho-schools-chief-differ-student-testing/
Illinois Suburbs Push Back Against Testing
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/education/ct-school-ratings-overhaul-sidebar-met-20140511,0,478278.story
Louisiana Tax Dollars at Work: Training Teachers to Administer High-Stakes Tests Which Grade Their "Effectiveness"
http://wwno.org/post/back-school-training-teachers-give-high-stakes-tests
http://wwno.org/post/behind-test-using-test-scores-grade-teachers
Why Standardized Testing is Ruining Maine Schools, Hurting Our Kids
https://bangordailynews.com/2014/05/08/opinion/why-standardized-testing-is-ruining-our-schools-hurting-our-kids/
Massachusetts Teachers Union Elects Strong Foe of High-Stakes Testing as President
http://www.gazettenet.com/home/11920874-95/barbara-madeloni-of-northampton-foe-of-standardized-testing-elected-president-of-110000-member-massa
A Fairer Test Score Measure for Massachusetts
http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2014/05/06/fairer-test-score-measure/sjpTO5mv9hldIrfUxLC2rJ/story.html
Common Core Field Testing Seen as Another Unfunded Massachusetts State Mandate
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140509/PUB04/405080312/1040
Parents Boycott New Jersey ASK Test
http://tri.gmnews.com/news/2014-05-08/Opinion/Parents_boycott_NJ_ASK_test.html
How to Refuse New Jersey Tests for Your Child
http://thealternativepress.com/articles/misinformation-and-half-truths-is-this-what-we-h
Student: Standardized Tests Taking a Toll in New Mexico Classrooms
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/life/teen/are-standardized-exams-taking-a-toll-in-the-classroom/article_c0064cf3-f1d4-5576-bca7-1b7747a2bd44.html
A Conversation About Tests New York Teachers Can't Have
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/07/nyregion/principals-want-to-complain-about-new-york-state-tests-but-explanations-have-to-wait.html
The Pseudo-Science of New York's Common Core Tests
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alan-singer/common-core-pseudoscience_b_5280441.html
Ohio Teachers Seek Three-Year Delay in High-Stakes Testing
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/05/10/ohio-teachers-union-wants-delay-in-high-stakes-testing.html
Oklahoma Legislature Passes Bill Giving Parents a Voice in Overruling Grade Promotion Test
http://kfor.com/2014/05/12/bill-passes-giving-parents-and-teachers-a-voice-in-3rd-grade-reading-test/
Testing Expert: Oregon's Assessments Should Be Designed by Local Educators
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/05/student_assessments_should_be.html
Oregon Teachers Seek Common Core Testing Moratorium
http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2014/05/oregon_teachers_union_calls_fo.html
They'll Never Catch Pennsylvania's Worst Test Cheating Culprits -- Politicians Who Mandate High-Stakes Exams
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/attytood/Theyll-never-catch-the-real-culprits.html#IQAktHH1XgkwVvho.99
Philadelphia "Culture of Cheating" Reflects Standardized Exam Misuse
http://news.yahoo.com/principal-teachers-face-criminal-charges-philadelphia-test-scandal-202509850.html
Different Value-Added Systems Produce Wide-Range of Results in Pittsburgh Schools
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2014/05/12/Pittsburgh-Public-Schools-state-use-different-formulas-to-calculate-value-added-by-schools/stories/201405120068
Rhode Island School Board Resists Mounting Pressure to End Graduation Test
http://www.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/content/20140512-r.i.-board-of-education-stays-with-necap-as-graduation-requirement.ece
Nashville Tennessee to Take Up Anti-Testing Resolution
http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2014/05/09/nashville-board-will-take-anti-testing-measure/8903165/
Another Test Cheating Probe in the Home of the "Texas Miracle" Which Begat "No Child Left Behind"
http://blog.chron.com/k12zone/2014/05/teachers-at-2nd-hisd-school-face-firing-in-cheating-probe/
Texas Teacher Evaluation Earns a Failing Grade
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outlook/article/Lee-Sridharan-Sung-HISD-gets-a-failing-gradede-5460933.php
Are Texas Children Allowed to Read for Pleasure Any More?
http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2014/may/10/ys_education_matters_051114_239099/?features
Virginia Parents Start Organizing Opt Out Campaign
http://www.nbc12.com/story/25497436/sol-opt-out
How NCLB Waiver Revocation Will Hurt Washington State Schools
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/05/08/how-students-will-be-affected-by-federal-revocation-of-washingtons-nclb-waiver/
Obama-Duncan Testing Policies Contradict Their Own High-Sounding Statements
http://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2014/05/06/tm-ntoy-obama-evaluation.html?cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS2
New Study Casts Doubt on Rating Teachers by Students' Test Scores
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/good-teaching-poor-test-scores-doubt-cast-on-grading-teachers-by-student-performance/2014/05/12/96d94812-da07-11e3-bda1-9b46b2066796_story.html
Standardized Testing Focus is Part of 19th Century Model of Education
http://www.centredaily.com/2014/05/13/4176028/henry-g-brzycki-why-standardized.html?sp=/99/145/
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
http://wp.me/p2odLa-7T0
truedelphi
(32,324 posts)Chris Hayes, host of MSNBC's All In With Chris Hayes, he had a segment of last Thursday's program where he interviewed two women about opposition to the standardized testing.
truedelphi
(32,324 posts)Are getting involved in the blowback against the Common Core, and it also presents the conundrum that possibly Maddow and Hayes are finding themselves in.
http://my.firedoglake.com/amerigus/2014/05/11/conflicted-msnbc-muddled-reporting-on-common-core-charter-schools/
yurbud
(39,405 posts)truedelphi
(32,324 posts)two women that discussed a few of the pros and many of the con's of the issue. It did seem that he had to "squeeze" it in in order to comply with his Masters at MSNBC.
I will paste this link, with the caveat that I didn't vet this web site. I chose it above others as it doesn't make you watch the full hour of Hayes to get to the last eight minutes or so of the show that it presents on video:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2014/05/09/chris_hayes_whats_the_case_for_common_core.html
how rarely Chris Hayes covers education. Maddow is like never....