One of Gov. Jerry Brown’s State of the State goals is a reduction not only in the number of tests taken by students in an effort to restore instructional time, but also a method to ensure that test results are turned around in a timely manner.
These are issues ACSA has long advocated for. In fact, the association has been working for months to draft legislation that goes beyond the governor’s goals, but is in keeping with them.
The bill is the product of numerous conference calls with members of ACSA’s Delegate Assembly, committees and councils.
“Our measure is far reaching and really looks toward the future of testing for our secondary students overall,” said Executive Director Bob Wells.
ACSA is going over elements of the bill with key stakeholders, including the governor, and is close to securing a lawmaker to carry the bill.
The intent of the bill is to require the following by 2013:
• A plan to streamline and reduce state-mandated middle and high school testing, including, but not limited to, eliminating redundant assessments, reducing or minimizing testing time for pupils, teachers and administrators in order to restore instructional time and minimize assessments that are not directly connected to teaching and learning in the classroom.
• A plan to bring together K-12 policy leaders, the community colleges, the California State University, the University of California, private colleges and postsecondary career technical and vocational programs to develop criteria and create pathways in which assessments taken by middle and high school pupils are aligned with college and career readiness and are recognized as one of a number of multiple measures for entry into college and career training.
• A plan for transitioning to a system of high quality assessments that has tangible meaning to individual middle and high school pupils, including but not limited to recognition and rewards for demonstrating mastery of subject matter, and progress toward mastery of subject matter.
ACSA Legislative advocate Adonai Mack noted the governor referred to school principals consistently throughout his Jan. 18 State of the State address.
“It is clear that he is looking toward school leaders for advice and ideas on methods to improve the quality of public education,” Mack said.
The governor wants clear lines between the levels of power in the educational system and where the decision making is most critical.
To this end, he stated that it is time to depend on local school boards, principals and teachers to educate the state’s children and for the state to “set broad goals and have a good accountability system.”