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Judge Halts 8th Grade Algebra Test

California board of education is ordered not to make plans for exam 
until hearing in December.

A Sacramento County Superior Court judge last week ordered the 
California state board of education to postpone its bold and 
expensive plan to require all 8th graders to be tested in algebra.

The board approved the first-in-the-nation mandate in July after a 
forceful last-minute recommendation from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, 
a Republican. The move was opposed by California's schools 
superintendent, Jack O'Connell, and education groups questioned 
whether the state had the money, staff, and training to handle the 
requirement. ["California Board Mandates Algebra 1 for All 8th 
Graders", July 16, 2008 -- 
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/07/16/43algebra.h27.html ]

Opponents argued that the decision was made hastily, and that the 
public did not have adequate time to comment. The California School 
Boards Association and the Association of California School 
Administrators sued in September.

In a ruling Oct. 28 granting a temporary restraining order, Judge 
Shelleyanne Chang agreed the two groups would "suffer irreparable 
injury before the matter can be heard" formally. She ordered the 
state school board not to make any further decisions on the algebra 
test until a Dec. 19 court hearing.

Scott Plotkin, the executive director of the school boards' 
association, said the restraining order validates his belief that the 
board overstepped its authority.

"Prior to making their decision, the [state board] didn't provide the 
public with an opportunity to express how such a change in policy 
will have significant ramifications for all aspects of the 
educational system," he said.

Ted Mitchell, the president of the state board, said he had not yet 
seen the judge's ruling, but he called the delay unfortunate.