This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/why-md-lawmakers-wont-take-up-a-bill-to-reduce-student-testing-this-year/2016/01/13/97fbc2f8-ba50-11e5-829c-26ffb874a18d_story.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Why Md. lawmakers won’t take up a bill to reduce student testing this year Why Gov. Larry Hogan won’t propose a bill to reduce testing this year
(7 days later)
It is one of the few issues that Gov. Larry Hogan and Democratic legislative leaders agree on: students are tested too much.It is one of the few issues that Gov. Larry Hogan and Democratic legislative leaders agree on: students are tested too much.
But it also an issue that most likely will not get addressed this year. But it’s also an issue that might not get addressed this year.
Hogan said Wednesday that reducing the number of tests students are required to take each year was not something that was “on our radar screens” as lawmakers returned to Annapolis for their annual 90-day legislative session.Hogan said Wednesday that reducing the number of tests students are required to take each year was not something that was “on our radar screens” as lawmakers returned to Annapolis for their annual 90-day legislative session.
“It’s not a priority for this session,” he said during an annual back-to-session radio show.“It’s not a priority for this session,” he said during an annual back-to-session radio show.
The governor said he agrees with the teachers union on overtesting “in general,” noting that “we don’t agree on everything every day, but that’s one we 100 percent agree on.”The governor said he agrees with the teachers union on overtesting “in general,” noting that “we don’t agree on everything every day, but that’s one we 100 percent agree on.”
[ Md. teachers union launches campaign against over-testing ][ Md. teachers union launches campaign against over-testing ]
Hogan said he wants to wait for a commission that is reviewing overtesting before taking action on reducing the number of tests students take.Hogan said he wants to wait for a commission that is reviewing overtesting before taking action on reducing the number of tests students take.
Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller (D-Calvert) and House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) agreed. Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller (D-Calvert) and House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel), who also appeared on the radio show, agreed.
The commission was created under bill that was approved during the 2015 legislative session.The commission was created under bill that was approved during the 2015 legislative session.
Hogan named members to the commission in October. The committee has started its work and is expected to release a report in July, after the legislature has adjourned.Hogan named members to the commission in October. The committee has started its work and is expected to release a report in July, after the legislature has adjourned.
Parents, teachers and students across the state and country have criticized the number of tests students are required to take and the effect the tests have on instruction time.Parents, teachers and students across the state and country have criticized the number of tests students are required to take and the effect the tests have on instruction time.
The state teachers union had planned to make reducing testing a priority this session.The state teachers union had planned to make reducing testing a priority this session.
Stephen Hershkowitz, a spokesman for the union, said the organization still plans to push bills that deal with overtesting, including one that would require districts to annually report the number of hours students spend taking standardized tests and another that calls for parents to be notified about tests.Stephen Hershkowitz, a spokesman for the union, said the organization still plans to push bills that deal with overtesting, including one that would require districts to annually report the number of hours students spend taking standardized tests and another that calls for parents to be notified about tests.
“Students are still losing valuable instruction time,” Hershkowitz said. “We will continue to work on this issue.”“Students are still losing valuable instruction time,” Hershkowitz said. “We will continue to work on this issue.”
Fenit Nirappil contributed to this report.Fenit Nirappil contributed to this report.
Correction: Earlier versions of this story had an incorrect headline that said Maryland lawmakers would not take action on testing this year. The headline has been corrected.