SENATE MAJORITY WHIP TIM KELLER SAYS HE'LL CONSIDER OPT OUT LEGISLATION AT THE SESSION THAT STARTS NEXT MONTH … AND APS BOARD MEMBER KATHY KORTE SAYS SHE'LL CONTINUE TO INFORM PARENTS THAT OPTING THEIR CHILDREN OUT OF TESTS MEANT TO EVALUATE TEACHER PERFORMANCE IS THEIR CHOICE.
THE SCHOOL BOARD VOTED THIS WEEK AGAINST HER PROPOSAL TO SEND LETTERS TO PARENTS MAKING THEM AWARE OF THE OPTION, KORTE SAYS THE TESTS ARE NOT END-OF-COURSE EXAMS. KORTE ALSO SAYS THE STATE TOLD SCHOOLS THEY CAN DO THEIR OWN END-OF-COURSE TESTING …BUT SAYS IT'S NOT POSSIBLE. THEY DON[T HAVE THE TIME OR MONEY TO DRAFT THE TESTS, AND THOSE WOULD STILL HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
KORTE SAYS MANY TEACHERS AND PARENTS SHE'S TALKED TO SEE THE TESTS AS GOVERNMENT CONTROL AND MICRO-MANAGING. KELLER ALSO SAYS HE'S RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TESTING. BOARD MEMBERS AGAINST KORTE'S PLAN SAY IT MAKES IT LOOK AS IF APS ENDORSES THE "OPT-OUT" DECISION.
