State proposes eliminating local testing
Bangor Daily News, January 31, 2007
(excerpt) The Department of Education has recommended scrapping the local assessment testing program and replacing it with a state-mandated requirement that every high school student be eligible for college acceptance upon graduation.
Commissioner of Education Susan Gendron outlined the recommendations Tuesday during a press briefing and an appearance before the Legislature’s Committee on Education and Cultural Services.
Gendron stressed that all Maine students still would be expected to take the state-produced Maine Education Assessment tests and College Board SAT now required of them. She said the repeal of the "controversial" Local Assessment System would enable classroom teachers to devote more time to instruction rather than teaching the test.
"We’re focused on the learning, not on the tests," she said.
Gendron said recent studies had determined that the local assessments had "shown only minimal value" to overall learning. More emphasis should be placed on schools aligning their courses toward college acceptance, she said. She said high school test results had been flat for years and that a major change was in order to rectify the situation.
(excerpt) The Department of Education has recommended scrapping the local assessment testing program and replacing it with a state-mandated requirement that every high school student be eligible for college acceptance upon graduation.
Commissioner of Education Susan Gendron outlined the recommendations Tuesday during a press briefing and an appearance before the Legislature’s Committee on Education and Cultural Services.
Gendron stressed that all Maine students still would be expected to take the state-produced Maine Education Assessment tests and College Board SAT now required of them. She said the repeal of the "controversial" Local Assessment System would enable classroom teachers to devote more time to instruction rather than teaching the test.
"We’re focused on the learning, not on the tests," she said.
Gendron said recent studies had determined that the local assessments had "shown only minimal value" to overall learning. More emphasis should be placed on schools aligning their courses toward college acceptance, she said. She said high school test results had been flat for years and that a major change was in order to rectify the situation.
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