For Immediate Release
July 9, 2008
Contact: Regina Wilson
916-319-0693
State Board of Education Takes Action to Raise
Eighth-Grade General Mathematics Test Standards
Sacramento – The State Board of Education (SBE) voted today to raise the mathematics testing standards for California's 8th graders. Below is the Motion which was voted on and approved by the State Board of Education
First, as the State Education Agency (SEA) the State Board of Education (SBE) directs SBE and California Department of Education (CDE) staff to work with the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) to develop a compliance agreement whereby the Algebra 1 end of course exam becomes the sole test of record for federal accountability purposes under the No Child Left Behind Act for eighth grade mathematics. Further, SBE and CDE staff will work with the USDOE to establish an agreement that provides a reasonable transition period during which the State can build capacity across the system to achieve our goal of Algebra mastery for all eighth grade students. The Board intends that the required federal hearings on such an agreement take place in the late summer or early fall and that the agreement be ready for SBE review at its September 2008 board meeting.
Second, the SBE and CDE will concurrently pursue a waiver request with the USDOE to allow scores from students who score proficient or above on the Algebra 1 end of course exam during 7th grade to be “banked” and included for federal accountability purposes the following school year. Additionally, SBE and CDE staff will assemble a work group to develop priorities for longer term discussions with the USDOE that will help continue the process of more fully accommodating California’s 8th through 12th grade end of course mathematics content standards and other State programs with NCLB.
This action was taken to ensure compliance with the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965 which, requires states to assess students in grades three through eight in mathematics under No Child Left Behind (NCLB). In October 2007, the U.S. Department of Education found one component of California’s math testing to be out of compliance with NCLB, noting if this issue was not addressed California could lose federal funding.
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