Teachers, students and education advocates will be keeping a close eye on the Georgia Senate today. A bill that would cut the number of high-stakes tests students are required to take is scheduled to be heard by the full Senate this morning after breezing through the Youth and Education Committee last week.
Senate Bill 367 has the full support of Governor Brian Kemp and is the result of a listening tour the Governor held with teachers, students, parents and administrators across the state during the off-session. Kemp said he heard over and over again that students are required to take too many tests.
“Truthfully, we test too much here in Georgia,” said Kemp during the introduction of SB 367. “Too often, our educators – who are literally on the front lines of serving the next generation – feel like they’re not heard. With this legislation, our message is clear: we hear you, and we have your back. By reducing high-stakes testing, we will remove heavy burdens in the classroom for our teachers and students. This bill will work to restore parents’ peace of mind about their children’s education, and let educators focus on what they do best: teaching our children.”
Under the bill sponsored by Sen. P.K. Martin (R-Lawrenceville), four of the five tests eliminated would be in the high school grades, and the fifth would be a social studies test for fifth graders. Officials said the tests to be eliminated would include American literature, geometry, physical science and economics. The legislation would also allow for flexibility on the timing of the high school writing assessment and make changes to shorten the length of the Georgia Milestones. It would create a testing window which officials say would allow teachers to focus on teaching class subjects rather than preparing for exams.
During the Senate committee meeting late last month, representatives from education advocacy groups testified on behalf of the bill. Those who spoke in favor of the bill included leaders from the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, Georgia Association of Educators, the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Association of Georgia School Superintendent. All thanked legislators for letting them be part of the bill creation
