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Rex pushes, Ryberg opposes passing PACT bill
5/8/2008 11:24 PM   0 comment(s) on this story E-mail this story to a friend

By ROB NOVIT
Senior writer
State Superintendent Dr. Jim Rex and S.C. Sen. Greg Ryberg, R-Aiken, really agree on one thing: The PACT exams should be eliminated and replaced with new tests.
They clash, however, on how to accomplish that.
In a conference call with reporters Thursday, Rex admitted his frustration that an education reform measure, already passed in the House, has stalled before getting to the Senate floor for discussion and a vote. Ryberg is among those objecting to the legislation.
Ryberg said Rex has the authority to pursue the elimination of PACT and accomplish most other provisions in the reform measure. The senator said Rex admitted he could do this. Ryberg believes the superintendent would have no trouble getting State Board of Education and Education Oversight Committee approval to take these actions.
But the General Assembly does have the authority to say a new state test will be in place by spring 2009, said State Department of Education spokesman Jim Foster.
"Absent that directive," he said, "there's no guarantee it can be done. Neither Ryberg or the other senators can tell the State Board or the EOC how to vote. The EOC took more than year to get new English/language arts standards approved, and this would be more contentious."
Ryberg and Rex also differ on PACT's status as part of the 1998 Education Accountability Act. PACT was never part of EAA, said Ryberg, as the EAA legislation called for only an assessment test.
Technically that's true, Rex said, but PACT became the test.
"We've had great Senate leadership and bipartisan support on the bill," Rex said. "I'm worried that a few malcontents will kill the bill. I'm at a loss why we're struggling with this. This is a ruse, but this is important. The General Assembly should stand up to replace PACT and bring about other needed revisions."
Ryberg insists Rex is going the wrong route on reform efforts. The legislature has 170 members, but the State Board of Education and the EOC have a combined 34 members.
"He (Rex) ought to be dealing with them instead of setting a precedent," Ryberg said. "They have only one goal and that's education."
The state needs a new testing program badly, said Dr. David Mathis, Aiken's associate superintendent for administration.
The proposed legislation would provide a number of benefits, he said, including replacement of current report card performance levels. The revised levels would be "not met," "met" and "exemplary." The term "met" would combine the existing "basic" and "proficient," falling in line with most other states, Mathis said.
"If this doesn't happen, it will be a huge disappointment to administrators and teachers," he said. "This is the most reasonable and rational approach to tracking Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and student performance. The current system is flawed in its reporting."
Legislation would add strength to test changes and other adjustments, Mathis said. If the reform bill dies in the Senate, however, Mathis would "encourage Dr. Rex to go ahead and take whatever measures needed to make it happen."
Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.



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