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NATIONAL CENTER FOR FAIR & OPEN TESTING INC
BROOKLYN, NY · EIN 222653502 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE B93E · Education · Small ($100K-$1M) · fairtest.org
revenue
$136K
expenses
$153K
net assets
$58K
employees
1
program ratio
73%
mission · from form 990

TO PROMOTE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY BY PROMOTING FAIR, OPEN, VALID AND TO ADVANCE QUALITY EDUCATION AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY BY PROMOTING FAIR, OPEN, VALID AND EDUCATIONALLY BENEFICIAL ASSESSMENTS OF STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS.

profile · synthesized from sources

National Center for Fair & Open Testing (FairTest) advocates against the overuse and misuse of standardized testing in K-12 and higher education. The organization promotes equitable assessment alternatives and works to end high-stakes testing policies that disproportionately harm students of color, low-income students, English language learners, and students with disabilities. It provides research, policy guidance, and organizing resources to educators, parents, and advocacy groups nationwide.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

FairTest/NEA Assessment & Accountability Initiative
Collaborates with the National Education Association to advise state and local affiliates on improving assessment systems under ESSA.
Opt-Out Movement Support
Provides resources, guides, and legal information to help parents and students opt out of standardized testing in K-12 schools.
Performance Assessment Advocacy
Promotes alternatives to standardized testing, including teacher-led, multiple-measure assessment systems that support deeper learning.
Test-Optional and Test-Free Advocacy
Tracks and promotes colleges that do not require SAT/ACT scores for admission, maintaining a list of over 2,000 institutions with test-optional or test-free policies.
activities · 2 groups

What they do

  • Education Policy Advocacy & Reform 2 activities
    • Advocacy for equitable and reduced standardized testing
      Advocates at the federal, state, and local levels to reduce reliance on standardized testing in K–12 education and college admissions, including support for the More Teaching, Less Testing Act of 2023 and reform of ESSA assessment mandates. Submits policy comments and public statements to influence U.S. Department of Education regulations.
    • Capacity building for grassroots testing resistance and policy reform
      Supports a national opt-out movement by maintaining a network of state-level contacts, developing organizing toolkits, and providing media advocacy resources. Collaborates with organizations like NEA to advise affiliates on improving assessment systems and pursuing ESSA waivers.
  • Education Policy Research and Analysis 2 activities
    • Distribution of educational resources on testing overuse and reform
      Produces and distributes weekly updates, research reports, fact sheets, flyers, opinion pieces, and news articles to inform educators, administrators, families, and policymakers about testing trends, harms of high-stakes testing, and alternative assessment methods.
    • Research on assessment policy and alternatives to standardized testing
      Conducts and publishes research on statutory testing requirements under ESSA, performance-based assessment models, and alternatives to high-stakes testing. Produces reports, fact sheets, and case studies, including "Assessment Matters" (2016) and guidance on assessment for students with disabilities.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$136K
Contributions & grants$29K21%
Program service revenue$102K75%
Investment income$110%
Other revenue$5K
expenses
Total expenses$153K
Program expenses73%
Admin / overhead22%
Fundraising5%
Salaries & benefits$89K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$102K
Cash$96K
Investments$0
Liabilities$43K
Net assets$58K
Liquid reserves7.5 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -19.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
HARRY FEDER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $114K
ROBERT SCHAEFFER TREASURER 10 $39K
board members · 7
  • ANN COOK — DIRECTOR
  • DEBORAH MEIER — DIRECTOR
  • DEE CARNEY — DIRECTOR
  • DR SOPHIE SA — CHAIR
  • LAURA BARRETT — CLERK
  • LINDA NATHAN — DIRECTOR
  • TONY MONFILETTO — DIRECTOR
relationships · 10

Who they work with

  • ARN Organizing Toolkit Partner — Resource developed by FairTest to support grassroots organizing against harmful testing policies.
  • Assessment for Equity and Excellence Partner — Collaborative initiative outlining FairTest's vision for K-12 assessment policy reform
  • CEPP Partner — Co-published a report with FairTest on reimagining Massachusetts graduation requirements through performance assessment and multiple pathways.
  • Center for Innovation in Education Partner — Partnered with FairTest to provide guidance to states and districts on equitable assessment and accountability practices.
  • Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Government — References and analyzes federal education law ESSA to inform and support opt-out efforts and policy advocacy.
  • FairTest Network — Organization publishing fact sheets and reports on testing and equity.
  • National Education Association Partner — Collaborated with FairTest to advise affiliates on improving assessment and accountability systems.
  • Rep. Jamal Bowman Partner — Collaborates on federal legislative advocacy, including support for the More Teaching, Less Testing Act of 2023
  • Rep. Jamal Bowman Partner — Supports legislation introduced by Rep. Jamal Bowman to reduce standardized testing mandates.
  • State and local education agencies Partner — Collaborates with state and local stakeholders on policy reform in educational assessment.
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Assessment Reform Through Collaboration and Policy Change
    methodology: assessment_reform_through_collaboration
    By collaborating with educators, parents, students, and organizations to reform federal and state assessment policies, we reduce excessive testing burdens and replace them with educationally beneficial systems because collective advocacy drives systemic innovation and sustainable change.
  • Fair and Non-Punitive Assessment Systems
    methodology: fair_assessment_advocacy
    By advocating for fair, open, valid, and non-punitive assessment systems, we improve educational outcomes because such systems prioritize student learning, inform teaching practice, reduce harm from over-testing, and advance equity in schools and policy.
  • Performance-Based Assessment Reform
    methodology: performance_based_assessment
    By promoting performance-based, authentic, and multiple-measure assessments as alternatives to standardized testing, we improve educational equity and quality because these models allow diverse learners to demonstrate knowledge meaningfully, support teacher-led instruction, and align with real classroom learning.
  • Test-Optional and Inclusive Admissions Advocacy
    methodology: test_optional_advocacy
    By reducing reliance on standardized admissions tests, we advance equity because these tests have limited predictive validity and disproportionately harm marginalized groups, whereas inclusive alternatives promote access and fairness in education.