Assessment News in Brief

West Virginia Cuts Testing of Science, Social Studies

By The Associated Press — February 24, 2015 1 min read
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The West Virginia board of education has approved a measure to eliminate testing in social studies and reduce examinations in science.

Only 36.5 percent of West Virginia students were deemed “proficient” in social studies last school year, down from 38.4 percent in 2012-13. And only 40.6 percent made the cut in science in the last school year, down from 41.1 percent in 2012-13.

The state education department says the cuts weren’t based on declining exam results, but on concerns about overtesting.

A version of this article appeared in the February 25, 2015 edition of Education Week as West Virginia Cuts Testing of Science, Social Studies

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