Thousands of San Diego County second graders take a state test every year that measures their reading skills. But the fate of that testing program is in question. KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis has more.
California's second grade testing program expired earlier this month. The Governor wants to spend more than two million dollars to extend the program. But the Legislature has rejected that proposal. Lawmakers believe seven-year-old kids are too young to take multiple-choice tests. But former San Diego Senator Dede Alpert says the test results help teachers pinpoint problems in time for the third grade.
Alpert: If a child doesn't learn to read well by the end of third grade, the child will probably spend the rest of time in school trying to catch up because those first few years, the child learns to read...after the third grade you use your reading to learn all of the other materials.
Alpert fought three years ago to extend the life of the testing program. Now the governor plans to fight for it in the state's budget negotiations. Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.
