Pupils, parents might overlook changes

COLUMBIA --- As South Carolina education officials work to replace the 10-year-old Palmetto Achievement Challenge Tests, they say they expect none of the pitfalls that educators in Georgia encountered when they revamped their state exam.

"In Georgia, I believe some of the difficulties are due to the fact that they increased the rigor of their performance standards," said Teri Siskind, the deputy superintendent for the state Education Department.

"I don't think we could increase the rigor beyond the rigor we already have," she said. "We're pretty close to the top of the scale." This year, thousands of pupils in Georgia received failing scores in some subjects after the state instituted a new curriculum and tests. Officials there determined teachers lacked enough training to prepare pupils, and some tests were too difficult.

This month in South Carolina, Gov. Mark Sanford allowed a bill to pass into law without his signature that will replace the PACT, a state standardized test given by subject to pupils in grades 3-8. The PACT, which measures proficiency, meets the mandate of the South Carolina Education Accountability Act and the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

South Carolina teachers had long criticized the PACT for providing results in August when it was too late to be of use to pupils. They also said the test does not give enough detail about individual pupils' strengths and weaknesses.

Replacing the PACT has been called one of the state's biggest education reforms in a decade, but it might go unnoticed.

"It's important for parents and students to realize they've heard a lot about a new test, but in reality they may not see a big change," said David Mathis, Aiken County schools' associate superintendent for administration.

"It's behind-the-scenes kind of work," said Mr. Mathis, who was among the educators who participated in a task force organized last year to work on the new test.

Reach Sarita Chourey at (803) 727-4257 or sarita.chourey@morris.com.