Feds to help states reduce public school testing
The U.S. Department of Education on Tuesday released guidance to states on reducing the number of “unnecessary” and low-quality tests in public schools.
"At too many schools, there are unnecessary tests, without a clear purpose and tests that just aren't the quality that our students and educators deserve," acting education secretary John King said in a YouTube video. He wants schools to "move beyond bubble tests to measure vital skills, like writing, problem solving and critical thinking."
States can use federal grant money to weed out tests that don't help teachers teach or that don't accurately show how students and schools are doing.
The two issues — excessive testing and the use of tests for teacher accountability — are separate yet entwined. Many lawmakers have said there are too many tests. Some have expressed sympathy for teachers’ pleas to de-emphasize the use of tests in evaluations.
Georgia law mandates more tests than the federally-required battery in core subjects, such as reading and math, in part because of the state mandate to collect information on teacher performance. Also, school districts impose their own tests for a variety of reasons, from screening for gifted programs to preparing for the mandatory state and federal exams.
It’s unlikely lawmakers will have much immediate information about how many tests are in use. The Georgia Department of Education last year initiated an audit of testing statewide, but the results are not expected until later this year — after the legislative session ends.
About the Author
Ty Tagami is a staff writer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Since joining the newspaper in 2002, he has written about everything from hurricanes to homelessness. He has deep experience covering local government and education, and can often be found under the Gold Dome when lawmakers meet or in a school somewhere in the state.
