Va. House panel kills bill to cut third-graders' test load

RICHMOND

Virginia’s third-graders won’t get a break from their test load after all.

Sen. John Miller’s bill (SB185) to cut required third-grade standardized tests from four to two, which had passed the state Senate easily, ground to a halt Tuesday in the House Rules Committee. The panel tabled the measure, meaning it will advance no further.

Miller, D-Newport News, argued that the four tests required now – in reading, math, science and social studies – are too many. He proposed eliminating the science and social studies tests because, he said, preparing students for them takes an inordinate amount of class time at the expense of reading, which is a key predictor of future success in school.

Moreover, Miller said, eliminating the two tests would save the state $1.7 million over two years – a savings that has been built into the Senate’s proposed 2012-14 budget.

His bill had the support of groups representing Virginia’s teachers, principals and school boards.

The committee killed the measure after hearing objections from science and social studies teachers who argued that, without the tests, those subjects would not be taught.

Del. Kenny Alexander, D-Norfolk, said it’s particularly important that students learn their state’s history, because “Virginia’s history is America’s history.”