LiberalNation
12-21-2008, 03:42 PM
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A judge on Friday blocked a plan to make California the first state in the nation to require algebra testing for all eighth-graders.
The ruling sidelines an ambitious mandate approved by the state Board of Education in July after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recommended it over the concerns of California's school superintendent and education groups.
The board pushed through the effort in order for the state to meet federal testing requirements or face losing up to $4.1 million in funding. The mandate would have affected students in the 2011-12 school year.
But the California School Boards Association and the Association of California School Administrators sued in September to overturn the requirement. They questioned whether the state had the money, staff and training to comply with the state board's decision.
In her ruling Friday, Judge Shelleyanne Chang said she issued a preliminary injunction because the board acted outside its jurisdiction and without public input. She added that the plaintiffs would likely win if the lawsuit went to trial.
Ted Mitchell, chairman of the state Board of Education, said the board intended to appeal.
State school Superintendent Jack O'Connell said the mandate was "a recipe for disaster, particularly now that our schools are facing the prospect of severe midyear budget cuts."
About half of California eighth-graders receive full algebra instruction, but only about a quarter of those who take it score proficient or above on standardized tests. The rate is even lower for black, Hispanic and poor students.
Critics say pushing students into higher-level math too early could increase the dropout rate, but Mitchell said the ruling was a "roadblock to higher academic achievement in California."
The board adopted the algebra mandate after the Republican governor issued a recommendation to raise testing standards. Federal officials say California's existing math test for students not enrolled in Algebra I does not follow the rules under the No Child Left Behind Act because it tests eighth-graders with lower-level math.
O'Connell estimated the board's mandate would cost California about $3 billion.
The state is struggling with a $42 billion budget deficit through mid-2010, and both lawmakers and Schwarzenegger have suggested cutting public education funding to save money.
David Sanchez, president of the California Teachers Association, said the algebra mandate would require 3,000 more teachers, as well as training an additional 1,000 teachers.
The ruling sidelines an ambitious mandate approved by the state Board of Education in July after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recommended it over the concerns of California's school superintendent and education groups.
The board pushed through the effort in order for the state to meet federal testing requirements or face losing up to $4.1 million in funding. The mandate would have affected students in the 2011-12 school year.
But the California School Boards Association and the Association of California School Administrators sued in September to overturn the requirement. They questioned whether the state had the money, staff and training to comply with the state board's decision.
In her ruling Friday, Judge Shelleyanne Chang said she issued a preliminary injunction because the board acted outside its jurisdiction and without public input. She added that the plaintiffs would likely win if the lawsuit went to trial.
Ted Mitchell, chairman of the state Board of Education, said the board intended to appeal.
State school Superintendent Jack O'Connell said the mandate was "a recipe for disaster, particularly now that our schools are facing the prospect of severe midyear budget cuts."
About half of California eighth-graders receive full algebra instruction, but only about a quarter of those who take it score proficient or above on standardized tests. The rate is even lower for black, Hispanic and poor students.
Critics say pushing students into higher-level math too early could increase the dropout rate, but Mitchell said the ruling was a "roadblock to higher academic achievement in California."
The board adopted the algebra mandate after the Republican governor issued a recommendation to raise testing standards. Federal officials say California's existing math test for students not enrolled in Algebra I does not follow the rules under the No Child Left Behind Act because it tests eighth-graders with lower-level math.
O'Connell estimated the board's mandate would cost California about $3 billion.
The state is struggling with a $42 billion budget deficit through mid-2010, and both lawmakers and Schwarzenegger have suggested cutting public education funding to save money.
David Sanchez, president of the California Teachers Association, said the algebra mandate would require 3,000 more teachers, as well as training an additional 1,000 teachers.