TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas will not be able to let high school students skip state mathematics and English tests so they can focus on college entrance exams and career-oriented tests.
The U.S. Education Department says Kansas’ proposal would conflict with federal testing requirements that ensure accountability in schools.
Interim Kansas Education Commissioner Brad Neuenswander says the state wanted to let schools choose whether to drop state tests so student could concentrate on such tests as the ACT and job skills.
Kansas students are to take state math and English tests at least once in high school but Neuenswander says some students were testing more than once in high school.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the state now plans to restrict the math and English tests to the 10th grade.