Political Quotes

“I just want to say that this would be a new authority given to localities that the State would have to approve. The school district or locality could exercise that authority ongoing. Practically speaking, if a school district in Virginia, for example, felt that the standards of learning were not suitable for their needs, they would have the opportunity to create and administer their own Rockingham County assessment test. But since the State is still ultimately responsible for this and has the authority to determine to do this, I think this is going to occur in limited circumstances because the State still has that ultimate power and responsibility. The same requirements as laid out by the underlying bill for State- designed academic assessments would apply to any locally designed academic assessment: reading and math assessments in each of grades three through eight and once in high school; and in science, once in elementary, middle, and high school; reasonable adaptations and accommodations for students with disabilities; inclusion of English learners and so on. This will encourage creativity and innovation that may help to better inform how we do this testing process. Let's open this up to more ideas from more communities, and I think this will be very well received by school systems around the country and by the States, for that matter. {time} 1600 The amendment will not decrease transparency.…”