Caucus Press Release: House GOP Bill Reforms PACT, Strenghtens Education Standards
Feb 6, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information:
Jason Zacher
(803) 734-3139
House GOP Bill Reforms PACT,
Strengthens Education Standards
COLUMBIA -- House Republican leaders unveiled a plan to make the first significant reforms to the landmark Education Accountability Act in its ten years of existence.
Legislation filed Tuesday by House Speaker Bobby Harrell and Education Committee Chairman Bob Walker provides needed diagnostic reforms to the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test while protecting education standards that are considered among the toughest in the nation.
"We need to replace the PACT test, but we will fight to stop any plan that waters down the Educational Accountability Act we fought so hard to pass," said Speaker Harrell. "We will work to protect accountability in education by stopping any effort that leads to the lowering of standards, restriction of education oversight, elimination of key testing of subjects, or any other effort to dismantle accountability."
The Republican bill differs from a proposed bill by Democrat educators who included a major weakening of the standards South Carolina students must master to graduate from school -- including U.S. History -- and using "education-ese" to rate schools rather than real, clear, honest school ratings. It does simplify the ratings that students receive to bring them in line with the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
"One of the true successes of the 1998 Act was giving parents the ultimate oversight of their school's performance with clear ratings on the report cards," said Majority Leader Jim Merrill. "We will not let Democrats and educrats water down that critical reform -- no matter what bureaucrat's feelings may get hurt."
The Republican bill also keeps education accountability under the watchful eye of the Education Oversight Committee and does not give oversight back to the Department of Education, as the Democrats have proposed.
"We are bringing changes to the PACT that parents and teachers told us they need," said Rep. Bob Walker, Chairman of the Education and Public Works Committee. "The failings of the PACT must be fixed, but you do that by changing the test, not the standards."
In an effort to save taxpayer money, the bill authorizes the EOC to use an "off the shelf" test as long as it accurately tests our state standards. If not, the EOC will need to write a new test.
"What should be a debate about moving our schools forward has become a needless political debate," said Rep. Ted Pitts of Lexington. "Our bill is about improving our schools. That is the direction we are moving and I am happy the Democrats have decided to join us."
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