General Discussion

madfloridian

(88,117 posts) Mon Jun 29, 2015, 01:56 PM Jun 2015

Oregon Gov Kate Brown signs test opt out bill in spite of funding threats from Arne Duncan

I was so happy to read this. Arne has gone around threatening to withhold funding whenever a state was going against his policy.

So good for Governor Brown.

Brown says she will monitor situation to ensure federal government does not withhold money from Oregon

Oregon governor signs Smarter Balanced opt-out law

SALEM — Brushing aside critics, Democratic Gov. Kate Brown has signed a bill that lets parents more easily opt their children out of new standardized education tests based on Common Core standards.

The move on Monday came despite pressure not to do so from federal education officials, who said the policy could jeopardize about $140 million of Oregon’s annual federal funding. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan personally called Brown in late May to talk about the bill.

But in a prepared statement, Brown said the bill would require teachers and school administrators to “engage with parents about the value of assessment and the potential consequences if parents opt out and student participation diminishes.”

“It is important to demonstrate for parents the connection between high levels of student participation in assessment and system accountability,” she added.

Brown acknowledged the pressure from federal officials and said she would monitor the situation to ensure that the federal government does not pull its money.