California may soon test children on math as early as kindergarten in effort to curb dismal scores

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Set us as preferred Confronted with math test scores showing that 68% of California public school third-graders do not meet grade-level standards, state lawmakers are considering one way to potentially reverse the trend: Give kindergartners a math test to find out if they are ready for the rigors of first grade.Do they have a sense of what numbers mean? Can they group items? Can they compare quantities? Do they know the difference between a square and a circle? By discovering what the state’s youngest students know about early, foundational math concepts, teachers can better target weaknesses before their skills sink, said supporters of the early tests.

Senate Bill 1067, authored by Sen.Akilah Weber Pierson (D-La Mesa), would require every public school to assess students in kindergarten through second grade for early math difficulties and provide additional support to those who are struggling.Engage with our community-funded journalism as we delve into child care, transitional kindergarten, health and other issues affecting children from birth through age 5.The law aims to address sobering data.

California ranks 43rd in the country in fourth-grade math achievement.Only about 38% of public school students test at or above grade level when testing begins in third grade.

And early scores are the start of a steady decline in standardized math assessments through high school.The bill passed the California Senate unanimously in May and is slated to be heard by the Assembly on Wednesday.

Recent amendments to be considered include assessing a kindergartner’s math knowledge rather than screening for math deficiencies, something that would help identify students who need additional support.Parents would be notified of the results and schools would be required to report the results to the California Department of Education.

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