National Tests, Title I at Odds on Language

By David J. Hoff

Washington

Washington

The Department of Education has told states that they would be able to use President Clinton's proposed national tests to help fulfill federal testing requirements for the Title I program. But congressional critics and some Title I experts say the department's stance is inconsistent with existing policies and is an aggressive attempt to promote the testing program.

At issue is whether the proposed voluntary tests of 4th grade reading and 8th grade math would square with key 1994 revisions to Title I proposed by the Clinton administration and approved by the then-Democrat-led Congress. Those changes seek to hold the disadvantaged children served by the program...