Lawmakers missed an opportunity to improve the state's troubled assessment program when they killed a testing reform bill sponsored by CTA.
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," CTA President Wayne Johnson told the news media. "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, to provide accommodations for special education students on the exam, and to change the composition of the panel that reviews the state's assessment program to include at least 55 percent teachers.
AB 2347 died 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 our 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.
CTA will continue to fight for testing reforms, including the elimination of the state's academic performance awards program. A recent investigative news series by the Orange County Register 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 www.ocregister.com/features/api/api.html
"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," said Johnson. "That's not fair to anyone."