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Oregon Finds Way to Balance the Budget
The Oregon Board of Education voted reluctantly Thursday to kill student tests next year in writing, math and science because of cuts in the state budget.

The action leaves a big hole in Oregon's education accountability system, with no state testing in writing until the 10th grade.

The tests are used to assess how well schools teach basic subjects and how well students learn them. The scores also are used to calculate the annual report cards issued by the state for every public school in Oregon.

"This was an extraordinarily difficult decision to make," said Stan Bunn, superintendent of public instruction. It was done because the Legislature cut $4.5 million for student testing as part of a series of budget cuts to balance the state budget.

The board voted unanimously to suspend seven state tests in grades 3, 5 and 8. Board President Jill Kirk, a Portland business consultant, said the tests will be restored in 2003-04 unless the state remains in a budget bind. . . .

Dropping the tests for a year will save the department nearly $2.6 million. . . .

The ailing economy has triggered cuts in state government across the nation. Indiana, Michigan and Minnesota have cut or delayed testing. Missouri lawmakers slashed the student testing budget by 60 percent.

— Steven Carter
State Suspends Student Tests
The Oregonian
August 9, 2002
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/xml/story.ssf/html_standard.xsl?/base/front_page/102889421275352.xml

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