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By Kimberly Beltran
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Despite threats from U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan that includes withholding federal education funds – state officials said Tuesday afternoon they will nonetheless seek passage of legislation suspending almost all K-12 standardized testing beginning this year.
AB 484, sponsored by California’s Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson and authored by Concord Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla, heralds a new era in student evaluation by moving from paper-and-pencil multiple choice testing to computer-adaptive assessments that will track a pupil’s academic growth over the course of his or her educational journey.
But Duncan has strongly objected to the implementation of the proposal because most federally-required assessments would be suspended for one year and thus, conflicts with requirements under the No Child Left Behind Act.
Just last week, AB 484 was amended to move up the testing suspension from 2014-15 to this year.
The move came after Duncan offered states the option of getting a waiver to eliminate some federally-required testing while also implementing new assessments based on the Common Core standards, a 'double-testing' potential that the secretary said wasn't needed.
But California’s proposal appears to take a step well beyond what Duncan contemplated.
AB 484 would allow districts to administer new assessments aligned to new Common Core standards on a trial basis, and in the subject of their choosing – either English language arts or mathematics, but not both. As proposed, the state would not administer most testing in 2013-14.
The plan elicited a stern warning from Duncan.
“If California moves forward with a plan that fails to assess all its students, as required by federal law, the department
Reaction to Opposition of AB 484 - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education)
Reaction to Opposition of AB 484 - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education):
State School Chief Tom Torlakson Comments on
State School Chief Tom Torlakson Comments on
Statement by U.S. Secretary of Education Regarding AB 484
SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today issued the following statement regarding U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan's opposition to Assembly Bill 484, which would overhaul California's assessment system to address the deeper learning called for by the Common Core State Standards:
"This legislation will continue to be guided by what's right for California's children—moving forward with instruction and assessments reflecting the deeper learning and critical thinking our students need to compete and win in a changing world.
"Our goals for 21st century learning, and the road ahead, are clear. We won't reach them by continuing to look in the rear-view mirror with outdated tests, no matter how it sits with officials in Washington.
"We look forward to the opportunity to make our case to the Administration when the time comes. When we do, we hope they agree that withholding badly needed funds from California's students would be a grave and serious error."
The bill is awaiting action on the floor of the State Senate.
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Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100