Testing California Second Graders

[George Sheridan <learn@jps.net>]

Jack O'Connell, California's State Superintendent of Public 
Instruction, has signaled that he plans to sponsor legislation to 
extend STAR testing of second graders beyond the current sunset of 
July 1, 2007. CTA will vigorously oppose this proposal and is already 
organizing our allies to defeat it.

We sponsored the original bill to end second-grade testing. I 
personally provided the legislature with information from experts on 
testing and on child development, showing that standardized testing 
of young children is even less reliable than similar testing with 
older children, in some cases barely exceeding chance. I also told 
them about the impact of the rigid testing protocols on some of my 
fragile children.

Gene Mullin, the new chair of the Assembly Education Committee, was 
one of the authors of the original legislation. He will be able to 
use letters opposing this form of state-sponsored child abuse. I will 
post more information when it becomes available.


George Sheridan