Russ Feingold: “I rise to add my thoughts to this important debate about the proposed annual testing requirements for students in grades…”

“I rise to add my thoughts to this important debate about the proposed annual testing requirements for students in grades 3-8. This bill that we are debating would require states to implement annual testing in reading and math by the 2005-2006 school year; to develop standards for science and history by the 2005-2006 school year; and to implement annual assessments in science for students in grades 3-8 by the 2007-2008 school year. I commend the Senator from Minnesota [Mr. Wellstone] for his commitment to ensuring that these tests are high in quality and do not have an adverse impact on students, teachers, schools, school districts, and States. I am pleased to be listed as a cosponsor of a number of his amendments to this bill to improve its testing provisions. I actually heard a lot about this proposal for testing from the people of Wisconsin, and their response has been almost universally negative. My constituents oppose this proposal for many reasons, including the cost of developing and implementing additional tests, the loss of teaching time every year to prepare for and take the tests, the linking of success on these tests to ESEA administrative funds, and the pressure that these additional tests will place on students, teachers, schools, and school districts. I share my constituents' concerns about this proposed Federal mandate.”