North Carolina tosses out some tests

North Carolina, in passing its FY11 budget, threw out the statewide tests in history, civics, and social science. In so doing, the Legistlature found surprisingly few defenders of the tests:

The testing commission’s 2008 report found that the state’s standardized-testing regime, called the ABCs of education, did not ensure that students are ready for college or the job market and that too much time was spent on standardized tests without useful feedback that teachers could use to help students.

Other findings were that the testing regime didn’t improve high school graduation rates or reduce the remediation needed when students enter a university or community college

Oh, and they saved some money in doing so.