JCPS will make big changes in testing

This from C-J:

Subjects will be trimmed;

portfolios, scoring revised

Parents will see big changes when statewide testing begins May 11 in Jefferson County Public Schools, courtesy of the state legislature's decision to phase out CATS testing.

State testing in arts and humanities, as well as vocational studies and practical living, has been eliminated.

Students will still compile writing portfolios, but the state won't hold schools accountable for the results.

And schools likely won't receive an academic index score that would measure whether they are making progress toward academic proficiency.

Senate Bill 1, which Gov. Steve Beshear is expected to sign this week, calls for replacing the state's Commonwealth Accountability Testing System, with new state tests starting in 2011-12...

...Marty Bell, deputy superintendent for the district. "The portfolios will only be used as an academic tool." ...

Bell said Jefferson County will continue tracking how well schools are doing in key subjects such as math and reading.

And the district will release student test scores for each subject area tested, but does not plan to create an overall index score for ...