Testing relief gains steam   

A movement to limit federally mandated tests is gaining momentum as the Obama administration draws to a close, writes Alyson Klein in Education Week. Proposals include legislation in Congress backed by teachers' unions that would allow summative tests in math and English/language arts only in certain grade spans. New Hampshire and the U.S. Department of Education are discussing establishing a pilot that would administer summative assessments only in certain grades, provided districts offer other "competency-based" tests to gauge student mastery. The Council of Chief State School Officers has proposed a similar program. And in Connecticut, Gov. Dannel Malloy is pursuing "a dialogue" between the Obama administration and his state on ways to "reduce the testing burden," such as allowing 11th graders to take the SAT in lieu of a high school exam aligned with the Common Core State Standards. A bill introduced in March by Reps. Chris Gibson, R-N.Y. and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz. would let states test students in certain grade spans, reducing mandated tests from 14 to six. And a bill by Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y. would require students in grades 3 through 8 to take just one test per year instead of two. Recently, former President Bill Clinton said he favored fewer tests -- perhaps once in elementary school, once in middle school, and once in high school. More

Source:  Public Education News Blast

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