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Tim Post

Minnesota could drop the number of required tests for students

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Standardized testing
Standardized testing is taking root in more schools across the country.
Photo by Billy Barnes for American Radio Works | File

Minnesota education commissioner Brenda Cassellius says the state is working to find the right balance of assessment testing for students.

Governor Mark Dayton recently proposed cutting the number of proficiency tests students take by a third. That would require approval from Minnesota lawmakers and the U.S. Department of Education.

Many schools in Minnesota have shifted to online testing of students. "So assessments will get smarter," Cassellius told MPR News host Tom Weber. "They will be better aligned. I think we'll get to the right mix it's just taking the steps and being patient to get there."

Cassellius also wants districts to reduce the number of school level assessments given to students and instead rely on state assessment tests to measure progress.

Critics of the governor's plan to reduce testing say it could hurt the progress of students because the state would have less information on how they're performing.