@OHMomof2 I meant, the government mandating these tests–a sort of government/private entity partnership–would just waste money. It’s easy to say that yes, the government should provide this, and it should provide that, and it should pay for kids to take these tests. Not to sound too libertarian, but it would mean your tax money would go to pay for another person’s kid to take a test. From personal experience, I know that a lot of kids didn’t really need those mandated tests–they had either already taken them, or planned to study throughout the summer and take them right before school started up. Yes, you obviously will get a lot of poor kids who would have had some difficulty in getting waivers previously, but who now have a chance to take the test(s). But maybe the conversation should be about making the fee waiver process easier, and not investing millions and millions of dollars right off the bat.
Just my 2 cents (or…6 cents? I’ve written thrice). The tests will probably end up being mandated regardless.