Thursday, September 15, 2011

Schools Matter: Finding the money for school repairs: reduce testing

Schools Matter: Finding the money for school repairs: reduce testing:

'

Finding the money for school repairs: reduce testing

Sent to the New York Times, Sept 13, 2011

The chair of the Ohio Republican party wonders how President Obama will find $25 billion for school repair ("In Ohio, Obama Emphasizes School Upgrades as Part of Jobs Proposal," Sept. 13). I have a suggestion: Reduce testing and scrap plans to increase testing.

The US Department of Education plans to increase testing well beyond the already excessive amount we are doing now, without any supporting evidence.

Test development and revision, administration and scoring will cost billions. The new tests will be administered