NOTE: The first set of links are specific sites that will be used in class. Beware that this second set is an eclectic list of sites on testing and reform. Some of the sites listed in the second set are driven by ideological interest rather than good research and valid knowledge base foundations. -R&K

1. The Early Catastrophe The 30 Million Word Gap by Age 3  An article in AFT's journal "American Educator" by Betty Hart and Todd R. Risle that is a MUST read to understand proficiency testing and the issue of cultural capital.

2. Our Links to Relevant to ESEA-NCLB, State Standards, and Related Sites.

3. A very good article on the substance of Meritocracy in terms of testing for college admissions by James Fallows, The Atlantic Monthly (February, 1980). This is very relevant to understanding Meritocracy as manifested in high stakes testing in public schools. "The Test and the 'Brightest': How Fair are the College Boards?"

4. Another outstanding two-part article on the origins and flaws of American Meritocracy
   by Nicholas Lemann, The Atlantic Monthly (September, 1995).
   Part I: "The Structure of Success in America."
   Part II: "The Great Sorting."

5. Sample Proficiency Tests Online

6. Ohio Department of Education
        ---> Short cut to ODE Proficiency Testing Overview
        ---> Short cut to ODE Local School Report Card Site

7. Pennsylvania Department of Education
        ---> Short cut to PSSA School Test Scores

8. The Hoover Study
        ---> Short cut to graphics used in the study and sundry things related to the study and the problem.

9. "School Reform and Accountability: Some Implications and Issues for Democracy and Fair Play."
   An article written by Randy L. Hoover and Kathy L. Shook for The Institute for Democracy in Education, January, 2002.

10. Education Commission of the States (ECS)
    A very powerful policy group in shaping public school accountability and assessment.

11. Next Generation Accountability Models
    ECS Issue Site: Accountability--Next-Generation Models Ed Commission of the States in partnership with Aspen Institute, funded by Bill Gates, is pursuing 'next generation' accountability models. These are worth examination given the political influence of ECS, Aspen, and Bill Gates with his billions of dollars.

12. Feeling a little politically naive? This is a very good AP-Cleveland Plain Dealer article on the effect of special interest groups (SIGS) on how legislators vote based upon who gives them money. So much for the ideals of democracy. . . A must read to understand the politics of testing and accountability. House members' votes reflect wishes of donors, analysis shows

This second set of links represents a wide variety of reform-related special intersts govermental, public, and coroporate.

1. FairTest
2. Alfie Kohn: The Standards Myth
3. Alfie Kohn's High Stakes Testing Site
4. Stop OPT
5. United States Department of Education
6. American Educational Research Association
7. The Library of Congress
8. Public Education Network
9. Find Law
10. The Center for Educational Reform
11. Education Week
12. Educational Testing Service
13. Education Policy Studies Laboratory, Arizona State University
14. Ohio Board of Regents Data
15. Ohio Board of Regents High School to College Data
16. National Center for Education Statistics: NAEP Test Data
17. Business Roundtable
18. Education links
19. Education Information Management System (EMIS)
20. The Education Trust
21. The Ohio Education Association
22. North Eastern Ohio Education Association (NEOEA)
23. National Education Association (NEA)
24. American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
25. Baldrige in Education
26. A Research Study on High Stakes Testing and Student Learning by Amrein and Berliner
27. OPT-OSRC Information, Hoover Study, and some state Op-Ed
28. Phi Delta Kappa
29. Some Gerald Bracy
30. Peter Sacks, Author
31. ADAM Elements
32. AERA Warning about Bush and Educational Information A must-read item.
33. AERA Statement on high stakes k-12 testing.
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