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House approves audit of kindergarten assessments after floor debate on testing burden
Summary
Senate Bill 302A directs the Oregon Department of Education to audit the assessments given to kindergartners, prompting floor debate about testing frequency, teacher time and local control; the House passed the bill despite several members saying they would vote no on principle or because of concerns about administrative burden.
The House on Tuesday passed Senate Bill 302A, which directs the Oregon Department of Education to audit the assessments administered to kindergartners and report findings and recommendations by Sept. 15, 2026.
Representative Dobson, speaking in support, told colleagues the audit is intended to clarify “the timing and frequency of the tests kindergartners are being given by districts, which isn't information we currently have.” Dobson cited an ODE survey that found districts use more than 500 different assessments for kindergarteners and said the audit would be “pro information” rather than pro- or anti-testing.
Several members raised objections. Representative Wright argued for local control and said kindergarten teachers “know what they’re doing” and opposed additional state direction. Representative McIntyre said she favored data but worried about what would be done with it and how the information could be used, and Representative Mannix described the measure as an additional administrative requirement that pulls district staff away from teaching.
Representative Dobson closed by reiterating that the bill does not add or subtract tests nor ask anything of kindergarten teachers; rather it asks district administrations to report the number and type of tests they give to kindergartners, information districts already hold.
The House voted to pass SB 302A; a clerk’s announcement confirmed the bill “having received the constitution majority is declared passed.” The bill directs ODE to submit an audit report to the Legislature and explicitly repeals the audit requirement effective Jan. 2, 2027, after the report is due.
