More schools opting out of statewide standardized tests

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Many school districts have decided not to pay the tab to give students standardized tests in social studies and science after lawmakers failed to restore state funding for the exams.

Through Tuesday, 266 of Missouri's 524 districts agreed to pay for Missouri Assessment Program testing in one or both subjects, but 97 had refused. Last year, after the legislature cut half of the program's funding, about 480 districts covered the bill for the exams, officials said. Districts have until early fall to decide whether to give the tests.

"A number of districts are having to go through the budget reduction process themselves and are prioritizing how they spend their local money," said Bert Schulte, assistant commissioner of school improvement. The numbers participating "were higher last year, but we're still really pleased with the response this year."

Schulte said the 266 schools that had committed guaranteed that at least 25,000 students would take the tests in each subject at every grade level -- enough for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to to hire a company to publish and score the tests.

The tests gauge student progress in math, communication arts, science and social studies. Missouri lawmakers cut half the program's funding last year, then failed to provide $4.4 million needed to fund the science and social studies tests next year.

The science test will become required in 2007 for the state to comply with the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

"On one hand, the state is saying these assessments are important. But on the other hand, they're saying these are not important enough to fund," said Brent Ghan, education policy director for the Missouri School Boards Association.

Not penalized

Districts that do not give the tests aren't penalized in their state accreditation reviews, but have less margin for error on the math and communication arts exams.

Springfield schools superintendent Jack Ernst said the science and social studies tests have value, but not enough to justify all the costs.

"It just got down to unfunded mandates, and our board told us not to spend money on testing that wasn't required," Ernst said.

The Springfield school district, which paid for science testing in the recently completed school year, will be the largest district in Missouri not giving either exam next year. Giving both tests would have cost the district $89,000 last year.

Republic public schools chose to pay for both tests last year and will do so again at a cost of about $5,000, officials said.

"You can't just pick and choose certain tests to give," Republic superintendent Pam Hedgpeth said. "You've got to send the message that all the subjects are important."