CCSD OPPOSES GRADUATION TESTS
Educators vote against standardized testing

Cameron County School District opposes a proposal to make high school seniors in all Pennsylvania public schools pass a standardized test in order to receive a diploma.

School Board members unanimously approved a position statement against the State Board of Education suggestion at this month's meeting.

"It seems like the board of education is telling us what to do," board member Dale Lewis said. "I don't think that's what we want."

Directors said it would be unfair to administer the same tests to all students. They also agreed that it's inappropriate to place so much weight on a single test.

"Many educators across the state are against the proposal," said School Superintendent Clyde Moate. "Most of them believe it is unfair to assess all students as equals when there are obvious differences between students in college preparation courses and those who are in special education or vocational technology education."

If adopted, the tests would start with the class of 2014.

State Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak supports mandatory tests as a tool to "ensure that a diploma has meaningful, substantive value."

"In an era when Pennsylvanians compete for jobs with graduates from China, Singapore and India, we must ensure that each of our students is equipped with the core skills that employers and institutions of higher education find necessary," Zahorchak said.