Testing Reduction Bill Passes the House
Highlights:
- House approves SB 367, a testing reduction bill which rolls back the number of state standardized tests.
- New version strongly encourages local implementation of K-5 reading and math programs and requires GaDOE to publish annual report comparing Georgia students' performance on norm-referenced test questions to other states.
SB 367
, a PAGE-supported testing reduction bill backed by Gov. Brian Kemp, unanimously passed the House Wednesday afternoon.
The bill, which is sponsored by Senate Education and Youth Committee Chair P.K. Martin (R-Lawrenceville), retained most of the key provisions approved by the Senate, though some language was softened. Read PAGE’s analysis of an earlier version of the legislation
HERE
. Notably, the new version of SB 367 strongly encourages local school districts to implement reading and math programs in grades K-5 and requires GaDOE to publish an annual report of aggregated norm-referenced question data, allowing for comparison of students within Georgia and in other states.
Thank you to all educators who reached out to legislators in support of SB 367. Since the House made changes to the bill, it now moves back to the Senate for an agree or disagree vote. If the Senate agrees, the bill will be sent to Gov. Kemp to be signed into law.
-Josh Stephens
