Year delay in testing component of TN's Common Core curriculum headed to Gov. Haslam

photo Susan Stiner, standing, leads high school educators in a TNCore summer training session at South Pittsburg High School in June.
Arkansas-Tennessee Live Blog

NASHVILLE - Legislation implementing a one-year delay in the testing component of Tennessee's Common Core curriculum is on its way to Gov. Bill Haslam.

Senators voted 27-0 to adopt a conference committee report on the issue, which has plunged state lawmakers into a fierce debate for the entire legislative session. The House approved it on Wednesday.

Haslam had objected to a bill mandating a two-year delay in Common Core testing and a delay in Common Core standards. But lawmakers say he has signaled he is willing to accept this version.

The state had been planning to use PARCC tests, developed by a consortium of states and which has drawn fierce opposition from social conservatives, at the end of the 2014-2015 school year.

Under the measure that passed today, Tennessee schools will continue to administer Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) tests for the 2014-2015 school year.

The state Department of Education will be required to start a competitive bidding process for new tests aligned with Common Core standards.

Senate Education Committee Chairman Dolores Gresham, R-Somerville, says the bill also prohibits the state from adopting Common Core standards outside of math and language arts.

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