Leonie interviews Akil Bello, testing expert and critic and Senior Director of Advocacy of the organization of FairTest, Akil explains the problems with the Specialized HS exam and the new digital SAT, and discusses the state’s plans to eliminate Regents exams as a requirement for high school graduation. He also delves into changes over time in the number of test-score optional colleges, and their diversity levels after the Supreme Court ruled to prohibit Affirmative Action.
CNN, Linda McMahon, Trump’s Education pick, was sued for allegedly enabling sexual abuse of children https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/21/business/linda-mcmahon-abuse-wwe-trump-education/index.html
Advocates for Children, Student Homelessness in New York City, 2023–24. https://advocatesforchildren.org/policy-resource/student-homelessness-data-2024/
Daily News, Push to digitize NYC entrance exam for specialized high schools reignites equity debate, https://www.nydailynews.com/2024/11/23/push-to-digitize-nyc-entrance-exam-for-specialized-high-schools-reignites-equity-debate/?share=tcoohytentooicndwciu
DOE's proposed contract with Pearson for the SHSAT, https://www.schools.nyc.gov/docs/default-source/data/contracts-agendac5e42b19-b471-4be6-aac5-6985c414342d.pdf?sfvrsn=2cdf075e_1
Akil Bello, SHSAT testimony for NYC Council https://akilbello.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/city-council-written-testimony-shsat-.pdf
Emily Carrazana, Testimony on high stakes testing https://classsizematters.org/class-size-matters-testimony-on-high-stakes-testing-before-the-nyc-council-education-committee/
National Academy of Science, High Stakes Testing for Tracking, Promotion, and Graduation, https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/6336/high-stakes-testing-for-tracking-promotion-and-graduation
Fairtest, NACAC Panels Emphasize the Benefits of Test Optional/Free Policies, https://fairtest.org/a-review-of-panels-at-the-nacac-conference-which-discussed-test-optional-policies/
Chalkbeat, NYC specialized high school offers to Black and Latino students inch up but remain stubbornly low, https://www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2024/06/18/specialized-high-school-offers-to-black-and-latino-students-increase-but-remain-low/
Hechinger Report, The problem with high-stakes testing and women in STEM, https://hechingerreport.org/the-problem-with-high-stakes-testing-and-women-in-stem/
Jonathan Taylor, Fairness To Gifted Girls: Admissions To New York City’s Elite Public High Schools, Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering, 25(1): 75–91 (2019).
https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/00551c876cc2f027,294b56436594090b,2e036b8a364ae7df.html
CNN, State plan calls for dropping Regents requirement by 2028, https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/education/2024/11/04/state-plan-calls-for-dropping-regents-requirement-by-2028
FairTest, Massachusetts & New York Reject Graduation Exam Requirements; Only Six States Maintain Mandatory Exit Tests For Diploma, https://fairtest.org/massachusetts-only-six-states-maintain-mandatory-exit-tests-for-diploma-voters-and-policy-makers-see-education-and-equity-benefits-from-multiple-measur/
WBUR, Question 2 wins: Mass. voters end MCAS high school graduation requirement, https://www.wbur.org/news/2024/11/06/massachusetts-ballot-question-2-approved-mcas-test-measure-result
WBUR, Billionaire Mike Bloomberg funnels $2.5M toward opposing MCAS ballot measure, https://www.wbur.org/news/2024/10/28/bloomberg-massachusetts-election-mcas
EdReform Now, Tracking the Impact of the SFFA Decision on College Admissions, https://edreformnow.org/2024/09/09/tracking-the-impact-of-the-sffa-decision-on-college-admissions/
Yale Daily News, Applicants, admissions officers navigate first test-flexible application process, https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2024/11/18/applicants-admissions-officers-navigate-first-test-flexible-application-process/
Akil Bello, The NY Times Doesn’t Cover College, https://akilbello.com/2024/05/06/the-ny-times-doesnt-cover-college/
Akil Bello, The Misguided War on Test Optional, https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2024/02/05/misguided-war-test-optional-opinion
NY Times, He Worked for Years to Overturn Affirmative Action and Finally Won. He’s Not Done. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/08/us/edward-blum-affirmative-action-race.html
Washington Post, Fearless Fund settles with DEI foes, ends grant program for Black women, https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/09/11/fearless-fund-edward-blum-settlement/