Standardized Test Bill For All Schools Advances

Save

Legislature wants Nebraska to conform with other 49 states
Posted: 5:23 PM Mar 4, 2008
Last Updated: 7:24 PM Mar 4, 2008
Email Address: sixonline@wowt.com

7 comments

A | A | A

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.

More Stories
Park East Store Burglarized

Protection Order Violations

Family Mourns Loss Of Loved One

Man Critically Wounded by Gunfire in South Omaha

Fire at Omaha Apartment Complex Blamed on Electrical Problem

Ralston Celebrates Independence Day

Councilman Plans to Appeal Vicious Dog Ruling on His Own Dog

Man Drives Himself to Hospital after Shooting

Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: No, Geez on Mar 7, 2008 at 06:26 PM
The state shouldn't include private schools and home schools, as much as they shouldn't search your home without a warrant. The state shouldn't even be putting out standardized tests for local districts. It's a power grab, and as people higher in government grab power where they have no business, we at the bottom loose.

Posted by: Geez on Mar 6, 2008 at 10:17 AM
Should the state include private schools and home schools? As they are now governing private business practices?

Posted by: No, Geez on Mar 5, 2008 at 08:03 PM
This wouldn't solve the testing of home school students, because the bill covers state run schools. It wouldn't involve private schools, either. I mean, until the state decides to take over private and home schools.

Posted by: Parent on Mar 5, 2008 at 01:28 PM
I hope by "parental involvment in education" Mr. Langan means that parents teach their kids how to behave so that when they're in an educational setting they, and the other children there, can absorb as much as possible. I hope he doesn't mean "help with" (read "do") homework or attend every PTA evening activity available, because to me, neither of those are positive parental involvement in school. Positive parental involvement is equipping your child with the tools (good behavior) to pay attention to his or her teachers in class and to take responsibility for his or her actions by behaving and doing his or her own homework. As for the testing itself, would that mean EVERY child is tested, or, like now, only those in the school systems which would give a testing average which the administrations would be happy to share? If the tests are not given to figure out which kids really need help, what exactly is the point, other than a collective pat on the back for an administration?

Posted by: mvw on Mar 5, 2008 at 12:14 PM
J - So, does a 'B' really mean anything, other than the student is not the best? Oops, or is that too hard for our coddled youngsters to hear and undestand?

Posted by: J on Mar 5, 2008 at 10:10 AM
If this bill passes, can we then drop some of the other standardized tests? Last time Raikes pushed statewide testing through, the NE Dept of Education played games so all the kids ended up with 2 sets of tests. Oh, and Sen Dubas - if your district picks the easy test and all your kids do well, what does that prove? Only that your district knows how to pick a test. My district puts kids with B's on the honor roll. Makes me wonder how Bennington kids would do on a Millard or OPS standardized test after being told for years how special and gifted they are.

Posted by: Geez on Mar 5, 2008 at 09:41 AM
This sure would solve the "testing" of home schooled students, now wouldn't it ? Or would this still be too intrusive...?