Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman, a Republican, signed a bill April 9 that would require uniform tests in reading, math, and science in many elementary and high school grades. The state鈥檚 current system of assessments lets school districts create their own tests to measure achievement for the federal No Child Left Behind Act and for state purposes.
The move to undercut Nebraska鈥檚 unique grassroots assessment drew criticism from top state education officials who support the current system and from standardized-testing critics nationally. (鈥淣ebraska Bill Would Boost State Tests鈥� Status,鈥� March 26, 2008.)
