Chicago Testing Flap Ends In Compromise With State

By Jessica L. Sandham

Chicago schools chief Paul G. Vallas said he "gave a little, and got a lot" from a compromise he made with state education officials after threatening not to administer state tests that the district's 430,000 students ended up taking last week.

Mr. Vallas had long complained that the state's February testing date failed to give students the benefit of a full year of schooling, and last month declared that he would give the Illinois Standard Achievement Tests to students in May—four months after the rest of the state.

State officials said Chicago administrators were making excuses for low student achievement, and warned that the district could jeopardize all of its state aid if it followed...