Dear Fellow Nebraskans:

In recent days, I signed legislation that updates Nebraska’s student testing laws. LB 157 is the dawning of a new era in education assessment for Nebraska. It provides an opportunity for the entire education community to focus on the progress of individual students, while ensuring greater academic accountability and showcasing the education excellence already achieved by Nebraska students in comparison to other states.

LB 1157 provides for consistent and uniform testing in Nebraska’s K-12 school districts.  As this legislative session began, I said that Nebraska needed a simplified way to measure individual student progress and compare school district performance. The goal was to ensure better testing of Nebraska students; not simply more testing. This bill accomplishes both criteria.

A statewide writing test is already being used and starting with the 2009-10 school year, annual reading exams will begin for grades three through eight with an additional test given during high school. Tests for math begin the following year, with a science test scheduled to begin in 2011-12, which will be given at least once in elementary school, and once during both middle school and high school.

The bill directs the governor to appoint an advisory committee of national testing experts to advise state leaders on the development of statewide assessments and a statewide testing plan. The State Board of Education and the Department of Education will have the primary responsibility for developing exams, and teachers and school administrators will be part of that process.

I want to thank the members of the Legislature’s Education Committee for their hard work on this bill. They had many discussions with educators from all across the state and the fact that LB 1157 passed without a single dissenting vote is an indication of the support for this bill.

It provides Nebraska with the opportunity to demonstrate the excellence so many students in our state are achieving. The goal is to put the focus on student learning.

Our children and our grandchildren are growing up in the most technologically advanced society this country has ever seen, and they will be entering the most globally competitive economic environment we’ve ever faced. They are competing with the best and brightest students in countries around the world. Education is the great equalizer and we want to provide our students a first-class, quality education.

LB 1157 will provide Nebraska the opportunity to highlight schools with long-term and consistent academic success and share their success story with every Nebraska school. Comparing school district performance is about improving educational excellence and academic accountability. It is about student academic growth in the classroom.