SOL assessments; Board of Education to require only math and English for third graders. (SB185)
Introduced By
Sen. John Miller (D-Newport News)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✗ |
Passed Committee |
☐ |
Passed House |
✓ |
Passed Senate |
☐ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Third grade SOLs; math and English only. Requires the Board of Education to require only math and English Standards of Learning for third graders. Read the Bill »
Outcome
Bill Has Failed
History
Date | Action |
---|---|
01/10/2012 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/12 |
01/10/2012 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/12 12101661D |
01/10/2012 | Referred to Committee on Education and Health |
01/13/2012 | Assigned Education sub: Public Education |
01/19/2012 | Reported from Education and Health with amendment (11-Y 4-N) (see vote tally) |
01/20/2012 | Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
01/23/2012 | Read second time |
01/23/2012 | Reading of amendment waived |
01/23/2012 | Committee amendment agreed to |
01/23/2012 | Engrossed by Senate as amended SB185E |
01/23/2012 | Printed as engrossed 12101661D-E |
01/24/2012 | Read third time and passed Senate (33-Y 7-N) (see vote tally) |
02/13/2012 | Placed on Calendar |
02/13/2012 | Read first time |
02/13/2012 | Referred to Committee on Rules |
02/20/2012 | Impact statement from DPB (SB185E) |
02/21/2012 | Tabled in Rules |
Comments
We’ll never have a measurable longitudinal trend if we don’t start early and, after all, it is important that the scientific process be instilled early for development of critical thinking skills. Why on Earth would you drop the test? It doesn’t make any sense. It doesn’t cost much extra. And kids have fun learning about science.
I say keep the history and science curriculum alive in third grade and that includes underscoring the importance of the topic by teachers knowing their students will be tested on the subjects.
It looks to me that Science is not being eliminated, rather it will simply not be focused on for testing. A great deal of the science that I had in elementary, middle, high school, and college was centered around my ability to read and understand. Making sure that there is a strong foundation upon which to build just makes common sense.
Instead of asking what a third grader will need "eventually", thankfully, somebody is finally asking, what does a thrird grader need in fourth grade. The answer clearly is not knowledge of science and history, but skills in math and reading.