Associated Press Published

W.Va. Standardized Test Discussion Won't Be Public

Michael Martirano

A new West Virginia commission’s discussions of possibly changing standardized testing won’t be public.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports that State Schools Superintendent Michael Martirano has formed a commission to study and suggest changes to end-of-year standardized testing.

State education officials say the meetings of the 25-member commission won’t be open to the media or to the wider public. The commission is composed of unidentified parents, teachers, superintendents and lawmakers, among others.

Earlier this month, President Barack Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act, which requires states to give annual standardized tests to practically all students in reading and math for grades three through eight in addition to one grade in high school. West Virginia currently goes beyond the requirement by testing grades nine, 10 and 11 in high school.