A bill requiring standardized tests for all Nebraska schools advanced in the Legislature Tuesday afternoon.

Nebraska is the only state in the nation without a uniform, statewide standardized test to measure basic skills at different grade levels.

"I envision a system that once developed, opens a rich set of information about education that helps the state partner with local districts and serving at-risk students and better addresses the achievement gap," said Sen. Ron Raikes of Lincoln.

"I just don't feel like taking test results and comparing school districts to each other will get us where we need to be and want to be," said Sen. Annette Dubas of Fullerton.

Local school districts currently develop their own tests to comply with federal mandates. The dean of UNO's College of Education believes standardized tests are a useful tool to compare district performance, but don't always help individual teachers and students.

"I think standardized tests are one tool for assessment of performance of individuals, but it's only one test and what happens is it’s so easy to hang your hat on because you get a quantifiable score that’s comparable across districts,” said UNO Dean of Education John Langan.

As important as any test, says Langan, is parental involvement in education. He also says educators need to take a lead role in the testing process. "I am much more interested in school folks looking at that than I am government and politics.”

LB-1157 advanced to the next round of debate with an amendment that would require a panel of education experts be appointed by the governor to evaluate the statewide assessment plan.