9486 in the collection  

Judge halts state's algebra test plan

Here's an example of
politicos running policy. At least the judge
has some sense. "Gold standard," indeed. More
like fool's gold.

By Juliet Williams, Associated Press

A Sacramento Superior Court judge on Tuesday
ordered the State Board of Education to
postpone its plan to force all California
eighth-graders to be tested in algebra.

The board approved the first-in-the-nation
mandate in July after a forceful last-minute
recommendation from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The move was opposed by the state schools
superintendent.

Superintendent Jack O'Connell and education
groups questioned whether the state had the
money, staff and training to handle the
requirement.

Half of California eighth-graders take full
algebra, up from about 34 percent four years
ago. About a quarter of those who study it
score proficient or above on standardized
tests. The rate is even lower for African
American, Latino and poor students.

Opponents argued the decision was made hastily
and that the public did not have adequate time
to comment. The California School Boards
Association and the Association of California
School Administrators sued in September.

In her ruling granting a temporary restraining
order, Judge Shelleyanne Chang agreed the two
groups would "suffer irreparable injury before
the matter can be heard" formally. She ordered
the State Board of Education not to make any
further decisions on the algebra test until a
Dec. 19 court hearing.

The Schwarzenegger-appointed board was
scheduled to take up its plan to phase in
algebra over the next three years during a
meeting next week.

Scott Plotkin, executive director of the School
Boards Association, said the restraining order
validates his belief that the board overstepped
its authority.

"Prior to making their decision, the (Board of
Education) didn't provide the public with an
opportunity to express how such a change in
policy will have significant ramifications for
all aspects of the educational system," he
said.

State board President Ted Mitchell said he had
not yet seen the judge's ruling but called the
delay unfortunate.

"I think the state has a great deal of planning
to do to meet this objective," Mitchell said.
"Californians are ready for this discussion,
and I am hopeful that this current ruling does
not delay the kind of deliberation that will be
necessary."

Critics say pushing students into higher-level
math too early could increase the dropout rate.
Algebra I is a requirement to graduate from
high school, but many students need remedial
classes or a pre-algebra course first.

The state was under pressure from the U.S.
Department of Education to change its current
eighth-grade math test or face losing up to
$4.1 million in funding.

O'Connell had proposed a new eighth-grade test
that would have measured some algebra
standards, but not all. He filed a brief in
support of the lawsuit Tuesday.

He said it would cost California billions of
dollars to prepare schools, teachers and
students for the algebra testing so quickly –
money he said the state doesn't have.

"California would have to double the number of
middle school Algebra I teachers over the next
three years. Given the growing budget shortfall
in our state and the troubled national economic
climate ... it is unlikely that the governor
would be able to find the resources necessary,"
O'Connell said in a news release.

Schwarzenegger announced this week that he will
call a special session of the Legislature in
November to address California's growing budget
deficit, which he estimated is "well above $3
billion" for the current fiscal year.

The Republican governor also met with education
groups Tuesday to warn them about the dire
budget situation and possible cuts in funding.

As the state board debated the algebra rule
during its July meeting, Schwarzenegger's
education secretary, Dave Long, pledged that
the governor would help find the billions of
dollars it would cost to boost what he referred
to as California's education "infrastructure."

"It will be done. The governor feels he wants
this gold standard," he said outside the
meeting.

Long has since resigned from the job, and
Schwarzenegger has not named a replacement.

Lisa Page, a spokeswoman for the governor, said
Schwarzenegger still believes in algebra
testing for all eighth-graders.

"We believe it is in the best interests of all
Californians that our nation-leading Algebra I
standard be implemented and remain confident
that it will be," she said.

— Juliet Williams, Associated Press
Sacramento Bee
2008-10-29
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/1351812.html

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