Lawmakers look to cut test funding for schools

From staff and wire reports

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri students could be taking fewer standardized tests next year, courtesy of a decision Wednesday by lawmakers to slash test funding by about 60 percent.

As a result of the cuts, on which budget negotiators agreed, the state likely would eliminate its standardized tests for science, social studies, health and physical education.

All that would remain of the Missouri Assessment Program would be tests for reading and math.

Some lawmakers said it was just as well.

"The test is cumbersome, awkward and teachers have to teach what is tested to keep their jobs," said Rep. Ken Legan, R-Halfway. "I think our actions today will be popular in the education community."

Local educators say Legan is wrong -- they need the tests.

"I would be concerned if we only tested in the areas of reading and math," said Dan Steska, Cape Girardeau School District superintendent. "There are other important areas we need to assess achievement in."

Steska said if some portions of the MAP get cut, the district will have to find an alternative test to use for science, social studies, health and physical education.

"We want to get comparative data so we know not only how we're doing from year to year comparing ourselves to ourselves, we also want to know how we're doing both compared to the students in Missouri and nationally."

Jackson's alternative

The Jackson School District already has an alternative test: the Terra Nova. It covers the same subject areas as the MAP test, but is used by the district to supplement MAP testing. Students in grades three through seven and nine through 11 are required to take the MAP, but each grade is tested on two subject areas. So, Jackson third-graders who are taking the communication arts and science MAP tests will take the social studies and math Terra Nova test.

"I think the MAP test has helped a lot of schools be better," said Ron Anderson, Jackson School District superintendent.

Cutting the tests would also not sit well with the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which uses student tests scores to help determine whether to re-accredit school districts.

"Currently, districts have four subject areas to earn points toward accreditation. This would cut that to two, which really is less opportunity for districts," said state Education Commissioner Kent King.

King said cutting back on tests would also run contrary to federal and state legislative efforts to increase school accountability.

A bill backed by Gov. Bob Holden and passed by the House and Senate in slightly different forms would impose new state requirements on schools that perform poorly.

The accountability plan targets schools that have lost full accreditation, have been cited for academic deficiencies or have performed below standards on the MAP tests.

Reduced funding

The budget cut, which still must be approved by the full House and Senate, would reduce MAP test funding to $5.1 million next year from the $12.8 million received this year.

The cut originally was made in the House, but then the Senate restored the money. Budget negotiators decided to go with the House cut.

Anderson is optimistic the funding for the MAP will be reinstated by the end of the legislative session.

"I'd be surprised if they cut funding because of the way accreditation is tied to it," he said. "When all is said and done hopefully there will be funding for the testing. I would be surprised if they drop it. I would think that there would be other things they would drop instead."

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman John Russell said he agreed to the cut because House negotiators weren't budging. Personally, the Republican from Lebanon, Mo., said he supports MAP test funding.

Budget negotiators are trying to balance a roughly $19 billion spending plan for the 2003 fiscal year, which starts July 1.