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House Committee Proposes $8 million cut in MAP School Testing Program

March 19, 2002
By: Matt Flener
State Capital Bureau

The house budget committee slashes 8 million dollars and three subjects from Missouri student testing.

Matt Flener has the story from Jefferson City.

Story:
RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

The Missouri Assesment Program has been phased into schools over the past six years to see how much your kids are learning.

But now the state wants to phase some of it out, at least for a year to trim the budget.

So how will the state know how kids are doing in the classroom?

Rep. Charles Shields says schools can still test in two key subjects

Actuality:ShieldsJ
RunTime: 10
OutCue: "reading and math"
Contents: The state department of education says science and math are the bare minimum of tests needed.

Shields says the state will stop testing in areas like social studies, health, and communications at least for a year.

The proposal still needs final approval from both the house and the senate.

From Jefferson City, I'm Matt Flener

Can Missouri students perform better with less testing in their future?

Matt Flener has the story in Jefferson City.

Story:Map2
RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

The house budget committee proposed cuts to get rid of three of the state's main student tests.

The state has used the Missouri Assesment Program for the past six years to gauge how students are doing in the classroom.

But Rep. Charlie Shields says the three tests should take a one-year hiatus until the state can find more money in the budget.

Actuality:shieldsg
RunTime: 13
OutCue: "step in the right direction"
Contents: Even though the Department of Education doesn't want the cuts, the house budget committee thinks the state is heading in the right direction.

In all, the state is set to save $8 million dollars by putting the tests on hold for a year.

The proposal still needs final approval in the House and Senate before any cuts in testing would occur.

In Jefferson City, I'm Matt Flener.

How will you know if your child is doing well in school... without testing?

Matt Flener has the story in Jefferson City.

Story:Map3
RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

The house budget committee voted to take away $8 million dollars for the Missouri Assesment Program.

This is the test that allows parents, administrators, and even state legislators to see how kids are doing in the classroom.

So how are students and teachers going to be held accountable for their progress?

The bill's sponsor, Charlie Shields says that...

Actuality: ShieldsH.wav
RunTime: 12
OutCue: "local school district"
Contents:

Shields proposed that three tests be put on hold over the next year to help pad the state's fragile budget.

The House and Senate still need to approve the proposal before any cuts in testing would take place.

From Jefferson City, Matt Flener.