The Opt Out movement is spreading like wildfire. It is led by parents, not unions, though some union locals have voted to honor the wishes of parents. Parents understand that the tests are designed to fail most children. They understand that test prep and testing are stealing time from instruction. They aren’t commanded by anyone. They are listening to their children

This message was written by Bob Schaeffer of FairTest:
Normally, FairTest sends out these news clips summaries once a week, early each Tuesday afternoon. With school standardized exam season now in full gear, however, the flow of stories about testing resistance and reform actions is accelerating rapidly. This special edition — with updates from more than half the 50 states over just three days — reports on the first, too-modest steps by policy makers across the U.S. to respond to the growing grassroots pressure for assessment reform.

As more students opt out, parents demonstrate, school board members pass resolutions and polls show strong public opposition to test misuse and overuse, we are confident that there will be many more updates by next Tuesday and in the coming weeks.



Remember that back-issues of “Testing Resistance & Reform News” are archived at: http://fairtest.org/news/other
National Revolt Against High-Stakes Testing is Growing: So Is Its Impact
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2015/03/19/revolt-against-high-stakes-standardized-testing-growing-and-so-does-its-impact/
Arizona School Test Cheating Investigated
http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2015/03/arizona_middle_school_fudging_test_scores_investigation_reveals.php
California Tests Graded by Non-Educators
http://www.kcra.com/news/whos-grading-your-kids-assessment-test-in-california/31857614
Colorado Educators Blast Weak Education Reform Bill
http://northdenvernews.com/hickenlooper-johnston-testing-bill-blasted/
Colorado Schools Need Less Testing, More Teaching
http://www.steamboattoday.com/news/2015/mar/17/our-view-less-testing-more-teaching/
Connecticut Superintendents Say Students Can Opt Out of Tests, No “Sit and Stare”
http://jonathanpelto.com/2015/03/17/victory-in-ct-parents-can-opt-students-out-of-sbac-tests-students-will-be-provided-alternative-location/
Florida Teacher Urges Parents to Stand Up Against New State Exams
http://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/news/local/clay-county-teacher-speaks-out-against-fsa/nkXyx/#__federated=1
Florida House Unanimously Endorses Small Reduction in Testing Overkill
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20150318/ARTICLES/150319542/-1/guardian
Georgia Parents Launch Opt-Out Drive
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/parents-refuse-let-children-take-standardized-test/nkZLr/
Illinois Students Opt Out of PARCC Tests
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/arlington-heights/news/ct-parcc-test-walkout-rolling-meadows-hersey-tl-20150317-story.html
Indiana State School Board Member Offers Ideas to Cut Testing Time
http://indianapublicmedia.org/stateimpact/2015/03/18/state-board-education-releases-resolution-cut-testing-time-students/
Louisiana Opt Outs Top 4,000
http://www.bayoubuzz.com/louisiana-news/new-orleans-news/item/843908-louisiana-common-core-test-opt-outs-top-4100-still-1-of-total
Maryland State Senate Votes Unanimous Approval of Test Review Commission
http://somd.com/news/headlines/2015/19199.shtml
Massachusetts Schools Deal with PARCC, Pearson and Pushback
http://www.progressive.org/news/2015/03/188048/p-parcc-pearson-and-pushback
Teachers Say PARCC Is Failing Students and Schools
http://patch.com/massachusetts/framingham/letter-editor-parcc-failing-teachers-and-students-0
Michigan Testing Politics Adds Stress for Students and Teachers
http://hechingerreport.org/common-core-means-three-tests-in-three-years-for-michigan-kids/
Minnesota Assessment Reform Depends in Part on Federal Law Changes
http://www.dglobe.com/news/3701236-school-testing-changes-tough-sell
Minnesota Students Face Too Much Testing
http://www.southernminn.com/owatonna_peoples_press/opinion/article_a5dde418-912b-5f52-8353-3534c3a77c6d.html
Mississippi Ends Graduation Testing Requirement
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/03/20/miss-ends-testing-requirement-diploma/25082065/
Mississippi Parents, Students Protest PARCC Tests
http://www.wjtv.com/story/28563545/parents-protest-parcc-test-in-rankin-county
New Hampshire Students Administered Wrong Smarter Balanced Assessment
http://www.unionleader.com/article/20150318/NEWS04/150319083
New Jersey Furor Over Test Privacy
http://www.northjersey.com/news/new-furor-over-n-j-tests-as-student-privacy-concerns-raised-1.1290700
Concern Mounting About Pearson’s Role in Education
http://www.phillyvoice.com/concerns-rising-over-pearson/
New Mexico Educators Block Test-Based Teacher Evaluation Bill
http://www.daily-times.com/four_corners-news/ci_27732207/new-mexico-dems-flunk-bill-put-student-test
New Mexico Teachers Not Allowed to “Disparage” Standardized Tests
http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2015/03/nm-defending-test.html
New York Is Testing Public Education to Death
http://www.blackagendareport.com/node/14720
New York Must Clear Up Mystery of Missing Test Items
http://citylimits.org/2015/03/16/ny-state-must-clear-up-mystery-of-missing-test-items/
Ohio High School Students Opt Out of New Tests
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/03/some_high_school_students_opt_out_of_new_tests_on_americas_founding_fathers_and_documents.html
Ohio School District Blasts PARCC Exam
http://www.xeniagazette.com/news/home_top/152309446/Xenia-not-thrilled-with-PARCC
Oregon Schools Begin Testing Under Protests; More Families Opt Out
http://www.pamplinmedia.com/pt/9-news/253902-123219-testing-testing-under-protest-pps-assesses-students-some-parents-opt-out
Scores From New Oregon Test Will Not Be Used on School Report Cards
http://portlandtribune.com/pt/9-news/254361-124343-bill-new-test-wont-count-on-school-report-cards-teacher-evaluations
Pennsylvania’s PARCC Tests Benefit Pearson, Not Pupils
http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/03/letter_standardized_parcc_exam.html
Rhode Island Parents Mobilizing Against New Standardized Test
http://www.providencejournal.com/article/20150314/News/150319530
Tennessee Voters Overwhelmingly Oppose School Closings Based on Test Scores
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/poll-tennessee-voters-overwhelmingly-agree-public-schools-should-not-be-closed-based-solely-on-state-tests-300052573.html
Texas State Senate Overwhelmingly Endorses Bill Easing Graduation Testing Requirement
http://www.statesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/texas-senate-oks-bill-easing-testing-ultimatum-for/nkYRm/
Utah’s New Civics Test Will Waste Student Learning Time
http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2302893-155/letter-new-civics-test-will-waste
Wisconsin Senate Endorses Suspension of School Consequences From Test Scores
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/education/2015/03/17/state-senate-endorses-school-test-score-delay/24909695/
No Child Left Behind Fails to Work “Miracles” — Spurs Cheating
http://theconversation.com/no-child-left-behind-fails-to-work-miracles-spurs-cheating-38620
Ditch the Test and Punish Model: AFT President
http://www.usnews.com/debate-club/does-no-child-left-behinds-testing-regime-work/ditch-the-test-and-punish-model
What if “Education Reform” Movement Got It All Wrong?
http://www.psmag.com/books-and-culture/what-if-education-reform-got-it-all-wrong-in-the-first-place
More Testing Promoted as the “Rational Solution” for Schools: That’s the Problem
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jordanshapiro/2015/03/19/more-testing-is-the-rational-solution-for-schools-thats-the-problem/
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