ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland’s House of Delegates has voted overwhelmingly in favor of a bill that would limit the hours students spend filling in answer sheets with No. 2 pencils.
The House approved what supporters call the “Less Testing, More Learning” bill that would limit the time spent on testing during an academic year to 21 hours from elementary through middle school and 23 hours in high school. That includes time spent on school district, state and federally mandated exams.
The bill is also designed to give a voice to parents and teachers: Each school district would have to create a committee on assessments to oversee compliance on the issue.
The Maryland Senate is expected to take up the bill, and supporters — including Betty Weller, president of the Maryland State Education Association — are optimistic it will pass.
There are 31 co-sponsors in the Senate.
