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Senate debate centers on criterion vs. norm-referenced tests as HB33 moves forward
Summary
Senators debated how to measure student learning in HB33, with lengthy exchanges over criterion-referenced assessments, norm-referenced comparisons and whether to require pre/post testing; several amendments were adopted or rejected before the bill passed 25-4.
A prolonged floor debate on education testing standards consumed a large portion of the Feb. 26 session as senators considered substitute House Bill 33 (enhancing academic achievement in public schools). Sponsor Senator Steele framed the bill around establishing criterion-referenced assessments tied to state curriculum and urged the chamber to keep both criterion measures and norm-referenced comparisons.
Steele said: "Criterion referenced testing is the way that you tell where a student is at, not norm referenced." Opponents and amendment proponents pressed for built-in pre/post measurement and for reporting that does not statistically reweight scores by socio-economic or demographic factors. Senator Spencer urged frequent assessments as a way to check progress during the year rather than wait for an end-of-course determination: "That's the essence of teaching is finding out how far within a particular time period that we have come."
Floor amendments: Several amendments were debated, including one requiring testing at the beginning and the end of the year (a pre/post proposal), and language on how results are reported and whether statistical adjustments for socio-economic status remain. After extended debate and a series of division and recorded votes the Senate removed two lines related to statistical corrections and kept the core criterion-referenced framework along with continued norm-referenced reporting for broader comparison. Senators repeatedly raised the fiscal question: implementing additional reporting or more frequent tests increases the fiscal note and requires funding decisions.
Outcome and next steps: First substitute HB33 passed the Senate (25 ayes, 4 nays) and was returned to the House. Sponsors and opponents committed to follow-up on funding details for any expanded testing program.
Provenance: discussion and roll-call sequences begin at the bill reading and debates starting in the transcript and continue through final votes.
