Senate takes up HB 48: No Standardized Testing Unless required by Feds

Tillman to explained the bill: We have test mania in NC. We
are teaching to the test and have forgotten about critical thinking skills and
creativity. Community College- reports that they don?t even pay
attention to tests. Need national barometer and not State tests. Courts can deal with it if it?s unconstitutional WHEN it
gets to their arenas. In the House- many democrats and NCEA endorse it. We need
to free teachers up.

D. Berger plans to vote for bill. But proposed a friendly
amendment which would make it clear that tests required by RTTT are still
administered.

Tillman: against the amendment and says Bergers concerns are
already covered in the existing bill.

Apodaca: urges everyone to vote down amendment.

Vote on Amendment: 11 to 38- amendment fails.

Allran:? Says
there is too much emphasis on standardized testing and teachers teach to test.
This is the number one complaint he has heard. Reports that this is a bipartisan bill- both NCEA and JLF
support it.

Rucho: Q to Tillman: Thinks it?s a good bill. Eliminates
testing unique to NC right? Yes. Not trying to do away with accountability and
wants to compare NC to rest of country and world. Will we look at curriculum
that will actually prepare our students? Yes.

Atwater: respects separation of powers in government. He
read the memo by Judge Manning and thinks we would be foolish to not pay
attention. Thinks we need to be careful about this.

Tillman: Do we want Judiciary to make law or rule on law? We
don?t want to abdicate the GA role to make law.

Vote on Bill: 44 to 5 McKissick, Purcell, Stein, Dannelly,
and Atwater all voted against.

Passed 3rd reading by a voice vote.

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