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Looking at moving science, social studies tests Feburary 17, 2005 The state's education policy-makers are looking at the implications of moving the middle-level test in science or social studies from grade 8 to grade 7. The state Board of Regents took its first look in February at this and other proposals to ease the test burden on students and their teachers and cut the time it takes to get test results back to schools. "It's more than just moving a test," Deputy Commissioner James Kadamus told Regents. Moving either of the assessments to grade 7 or giving them earlier in grade 8 would affect the material that could be tested and require that new benchmarks be set. With tests for 2006 and 2007 already in the works, it could take two to three years to develop new curricula and assessments, according to State Education Department staff who prepared an analysis of testing options. The long lead time in getting statewide test results continues to trouble schools trying to make timely decisions on student placements and Academic Intervention Services. Because students in schools with poor test scores may have the option under the federal No Child Left Behind act to transfer to other schools, the need for speed in test results has intensified with the advent of annual testing of grades 3-8 in math and English Language Arts under NCLB. |
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