The county school chief said he would also like to see improvement in science and social studies understanding at the high school level. More emphasis on geography and current events as they relate to history will boost social science test scores, he said. And with increased emphasis on student performance measured by state and national testing, schools will continue to adjust their curriculum to those tests. He is well aware that parents are paying attention to school performance measures such as the S.T.A.R. tests. People are shopping much more than they ever have.
Accountability comes with a price tag the state has been more willing than ever to pay.
Schools benefit from the state two-fold for their S.T.A.R. performances. It's a learning process for the students, teachers, administrators, parents, lawmakers and even the test publisher. State Sen. Dede Alpert, D-San Diego, has introducd a bill that would address some of the problems inherent in the reporting process of the S.T.A.R. exam. The proposal asks for more time for the test publisher to calculate results and the state to verify them before posting on the Internet. Alpert is also forming a committee to draft legislation that may become the equivalent of a local government's general plan a long-term blueprint for education.