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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 20, 2009
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- Senator Orie
- Part 1 - (running time 25 minutes)
- Part 2 - (running time 1 hour 25 minutes)
- Part 3 - (running time 1 hour 20 minutes)
- Part 4 - (running time 1 hour 30 minutes)
- Part 5 - (running time 29 minutes)
- (running time 5 hours 17 minutes)

Committee Hears Testimony on Orie Bill Halting New State Test

Senator says plan is untested, Redundant, And takes away local control

A controversial and costly Administration proposal to mandate Graduate Competence Assessment Tests in Pennsylvania high schools was the focus of testimony yesterday before the Senate Education Committee, according to Sen. Jane Orie (R-Allegheny), who strongly opposes the measure.

Senators heard testimony on a bill Sen. Orie has introduced that would expressly place a moratorium on the implementation of any new high school graduation assessments without legislative approval. Senate Bill 281 would also bar the Department of Education from developing the test until it received funding from the legislation to do so.

Last year, the General Assembly passed and the Governor signed into law legislation prohibiting the Department from promulgating, approving, or proposing a regulation to change or establish high school graduation requirements during the 2008-09 Fiscal Year.  Despite this ban, the Department has proceeded with the development of the controversial tests, which are estimated to cost $45 million in a few years.

During testimony before the committee, Orie sharply took issue with the department moving ahead on the plan, despite a clear legislative directive barring the development of the tests – which high school juniors would have to pass in order to graduate.

"This plan goes way too far in terms of cost.  The state simply cannot afford to spend $171 million over the next five years on this test– especially if it has not worked in other states," Orie said.  "Pennsylvania does not have the money in this economic climate to create a new unproven program."

Orie also took issue with the department's plan to add another redundant layer of testing without eliminating current testing that takes place in lower grades.  She said that testing children earlier – in grades three through eight – makes more sense in terms of providing remedial education before it is too late.

 "Finally, this proposal takes away local control from our schools and our educators," Orie said. "We know the schools that need help, and we know the students that are struggling.  Let's redirect state funding resources in a more effective way so that kids get the help they need in time, and don't fall through the cracks."

Contact:

Nate Silcox
(717) 787-6538