Responding To Complaints, Lawmakers Sponsor Bill To Limit Time Spent On Standardized Tests Two House Republicans have introduced legislation to reduce the maximum amount of hours required for standardized tests in a given school year. Responding to public and educator outcry about the amount of time schools must devote to administering assessments, Rep. Andy Brenner (R-Powell) and Rep. Anne Gonzales (R-Westerville) dropped a measure (HB 629*) this week to limit testing to four hours per student per year. Mr. Brenner said the change could be enacted in time to impact the standardized tests given in the spring. Were hoping that we at least have a couple hearings and maybe get some more support and actually pass the bill potentially in the lame duck session, he said in an interview. Although there are some exceptions, the bill primarily applies to the standardized tests administered in grades 3-8 in English, math, science and social studies, and the end-of course exams required in high school. What were trying to do is...reduce and make sure that there is a maximum amount of hours spent on testing versus too many hours, Rep. Brenner said. Initially, I think, the PARCC tests - which are law and kids are going to be tested on in spring - those tests I think in some instances we were looking at up to nine hours worth of testing. I think since then PARCC has reduced that...a couple of hours. What were looking to do is reduce it even further. The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers - which is a consortium of states that designed tests for the Common Core - has reduced the hours needed for testing to a range between four hours and five hours and 45 minutes, depending on the grade level and subject, according to its website. Rep. Brenner had previously proposed a bill (HB 193*) to, in essence, cancel the use of PARCC tests. The current measure will not, however, void use of those Common Core-related exams, he said, adding he thinks those tests can be adjusted to require fewer hours for administration in Ohio. The sponsor said he does not think such changes would harm the integrity of the tests. Ive talked to other testing companies and they have tests right now that are three hours and theyre used in other states, so I dont see that that will necessarily impact it, he said. The sponsor said he doesnt think his bill would impact the pending Common Core repeal legislation (HB 597*) that is pending in the House. That measure would eliminate the PARCC tests starting next school year but would still allow for their use in the spring. Mr. Brenner said, however, he does not oppose the idea of replacing PARCC with an alternative exam. Weve heard the outcry coming from school districts, schools, parents, teachers and even students that theres just too many hours that have been devoted to tests and not enough time for actual instructional time, he said. Youve got to remember, teachers will still be giving kids pop quizzes and still going to give them regular tests, so there are lot of hours that are right now devoted to testing, and I felt, along with Rep. Anne Gonzales, that we needed to find a way to reduce the number of tests, at least the testing hours. He said he has also heard complaints from parents who say their children are under more stress because of the testing requirements. I think a little bit of rigor and ability to have kids actually (challenged), I think is needed, so dont get me wrong there, but I think just the sheer number of hours (is a problem), he said. Schools could also avoid extending the number of hours in a school day or the length of the school year, which some have considered doing to accommodate all the testing demands, Mr. Brenner said. The bill provides exceptions for tests given to students with disabilities and any third-grade reading assessments for students who fail to pass the test the first time around. The legislation also calls for the Department of Education to create a table of tests that can be used interchangeably to measure student performance in an effort to reduce the total number of exams administered by a district or school. It would include achievement assessments, diagnostic assessments, end-of-course exams, substitute exams, exams related to student academic growth measures and other assessments, according to the bill language. Also contained in the legislation is a further delay in the required use of online tests. The legislature had previously enacted legislation to allow schools the option of a paper-and-pencil version this school year. Reps. Brenner and Gonzales bill would extend that option into the 2015-16 school year. Rep. Brenner said he has had conversations with staff at the Department of Education and in the governors office about his concerns on the number of hours required for testing. I think theyre aware that this was coming. He also said he has spoken with House leadership about the issue, but was unsure whether the measure would be prioritized for lame-duck action.
Posted on: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 22:06:24 +0000
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