Friday, March 16, 2001
Friday, March 16, 2001 |
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Seabaugh wants legislature to study use of standardized tests to evaluate schools By JOHN
MUNFORD
State Sen. Mitch Seabaugh, R-Newnan, wants the Georgia Legislature to take a closer look at how standardized tests are used to evaluate students in Georgia's public schools. Seabaugh, who is on the Senate Education Committee, is asking for the Senate to form a five-member committee to study those norm-reference tests. In a corresponding resolution he filed March 2, Seabaugh notes that the increased reliance on such tests to advance to the next grade level (and receive a high school diploma) warrants the study. Seabaugh said Friday that he hopes the committee will be able to come up with recommendations that would result in a pilot testing program to be used at several schools. "I want us to look for innovative ways to assess our school systems," Seabaugh said. Some standardized tests have been criticized for how often they are administered in Georgia schools, Seabaugh noted. He also said some have claimed the tests are racially and socioeconomically biased. Seabaugh's resolution has been referred to the Senate's Education Committee. If the plan is adopted, the committee would conduct meetings to look into the matter and make a report on its findings and recommendations no later than Dec. 1. Seabaugh has made education one of his top priorities, assigning one of his staff members to exclusively cater to assisting local educators with related legislative matters.
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