FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: David Frank (202) 401-3026
June 12, 1998
STATEMENT BY U.S. SECRETARY OF EDUCATION RICHARD W. RILEY on Voluntary National Testing
The National Academy of Sciences study, which found that it is not technically feasible to compare student achievement when students take different state or commercial tests, clearly shows that work on developing voluntary national tests must continue. Last fall the President and Congress agreed to have this study conducted, and agreed that the results should inform Congressional action on national testing. Now we have the results, and they show conclusively that if we want to know how well students are performing compared to rigorous and widely accepted national standards, then we simple cannot rely on existing tests. Work on the voluntary national tests in 4th grade reading and 8th grade math is proceeding under the authority of the independent, bipartisan National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB).
We must do everything we can to help our children master the basics all across America. These tests will help provide the needed information to accomplish that. It is clear that NAGB's work must continue without delay.
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