May 8, 2015
Delaware News
The News Journal
Delaware House passes testing opt-out legislation
Lawmakers in the Delaware House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved legislation Thursday that allows parents to prevent their children from taking standardized testing in Delaware’s public schools.
Newsworks
Delaware house passes opt out bill
The Delaware House of Representatives passed legislation Thursday allowing parents to opt their children out of the new, Smarter Balanced assessment. Only three lawmakers voted against the measure. If the bill passes the State Senate it will go to Governor Jack Markell, who hinted last week during a radio interview with WDEL that he may veto the measure.
Delaware State News
House Oks bill allowing students to skip standardized tests
The state House on Thursday overwhelmingly passed a bill allowing public school students to opt out of state standardized testing, but the legislation faces a possible veto by Gov. Jack Markell if it passes the Senate. “This is simply a parental rights bill,” said chief sponsor Rep. John Kowalko, D-Newark, adding that the legislation was not a reflection on the Markell administration or the state Department of Education.
Townsquare Delaware
DE legislator: Keep cursive alive!
Commentary by Lindsay Podraza
House Bill 52, sponsored by State Rep. Deborah Hudson, R-Fairthorne, would have students learn how to write in script before finishing fourth grade. The lessons, proposed to start this fall, would be part of students’ English language arts coursework.
National News
The Wall Street Journal
The soccer mom revolt against Common Core
The opt-out movement against taking the tests is growing, and so is the Obama administration’s ire.
Education Week
Districts out ahead of states in adopting science standards
While statewide adoptions of the Next Generation Science Standards continue to prove slow and steady, some districts are jumping the gun on their states and starting to bring the new standards to classrooms as soon as possible.
WJHG
Third grade promotion to be based on grades rather than standardized tests
Third graders at Florida’s Bay District Schools will still have to meet certain standards to move up, but this year they’ll be based on factors like course grades instead of standardized test scores.
The Washington Post
Pearson responds to criticism about its standardized tests
Blog by Valerie Strauss
I asked Pearson officials if they wanted to write a post for this blog about their testing program and the related issues that have put the company
in the news. The following blog post is their response. It was written by Alfred G. Binford, managing director of assessment and direct delivery at Pearson. The headline that Pearson put on the post was: “New State Tests Are One Piece of An Improving Education System.”
Ed tech company folds after receiving millions in Race to the Top funds
Thinkgate LLC went out of business, raising concerns about the security of student data in several states.
Inside Higher Ed
Legislative fixes for remediation
Low success rates and high costs are driving more states and institutions to seek new ways to offer developmental or remedial college courses. Minnesota becomes the latest state to examine remedial education reform in an effort to lower college costs and retain students.
Indianapolis Star
Pence signs bill stripping Ritz of education authority
Measures that shift authority over Indiana’s standardized testing and other education policy matters from Democratic state schools Superintendent Glenda Ritz have been signed into law by Republican Gov. Mike Pence.