SACRAMENTO - California lawmakers missed an opportunity to improve the state's troubled testing and assessment program by killing a testing reform bill sponsored by the California Teachers Association. AB 2347 would have given English language learners and special education students a fair opportunity to pass state-mandated tests, and would have made sure teachers reviewed all aspects of the assessment program.
"This is yet another unbelievable example of how politicians don't understand what's happening in California classrooms," said CTA President Wayne Johnson. "State senators forcing kids to take high-stakes tests in a language they don't read, write or speak makes no sense at all."
As amended, AB 2347 would have required the state to develop the STAR exam in at least two languages by the 2006-07 school year, provided accommodations for special education students on the exam, and required that the panel that reviews the state's assessment program be comprised of at least 55 percent teachers. In addition, the bill would have helped the state meet new federal testing guidelines contained in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. AB 2347 died yesterday when the Senate Appropriations Committee failed to act on the legislation.
"With all that's wrong with the state's testing and accountability system, this bill was the Legislature's one hope for making a real difference this year. Unfortunately, the 1.5 million children who don't speak English and those with special needs will pay the price," said Johnson.
Johnson says CTA will continue to fight for testing reforms, including the elimination of the state's academic performance awards program. A recent news media investigation found an average margin of error of 20 points in the Academic Performance Index, a significant gap in a system where a single point determines whether a school receives thousands of extra dollars. For details on this report visit http://www.ocregister.com/ and click on VIEW TEXT VERSION OF INVESTIGATION.
"Students, parents and teachers want an assessment system that accurately and fairly tests children on what they are taught in class - not a system that grades, rewards and punishes schools based on a single test that's not accurate or fully aligned to our rigorous state standards. That's not fair to anyone," Johnson said.