School District 304 is considering revised achievement testing that would provide fast, reliable information for parents and teachers and also keep schools in compliance with state and federal requirements.
Under the proposal, tests would be administered to pupils in the 2nd through the 8th grades and to 10th graders on a voluntary basis. Pupils in 3rd, 4th, 6th and 8th grades also would take a writing test. The new testing would cost about a quarter of current state exams and would reduce the time students spend out of the classroom for testing, school officials said.
The federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 set aggressive goals for school performance and allocated funds for helping achieve those goals, but the funds cannot be used for testing.
School board members said they will further study the issue.
