Despite complaints, legislators back LEAP

• By WILL SENTELL
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Jun 5, 2008 - Page: 7A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Another bid to water down a state test that public school fourth- and eighth-graders have to pass for promotion was shelved Wednesday.

However, the chairman of the House Education Committee said bills on the issue will be resurrected next year if top state educators fail to address concerns about the exam.

“The next step will be legislation,” warned state Rep. Don Trahan, R-Lafayette and chairman of the panel.

The issue surfaced during a hearing on House Bill 1306 by state Rep. Roy Burrell, D-Shreveport.

Under pressure, Burrell agreed to shelve his own bill.

The legislation would spell out new options for students unable to pass the test, which is called LEAP.

The exam is meant to make sure students master basic skills in math and English before they are promoted.

During tests given this spring, 75 percent of fourth-graders passed as did 66 percent of eighth-graders.

Backers contend that rolling back LEAP passage rules or abolishing the test would undo a key part of Louisiana’s most recent bid to improve public schools.

But Burrell complained that the test grills students on relativity, logic and other issues and is no guarantee that it measures a student’s chance for success.

The Democrat’s bill would allow students to pass LEAP if they came within 20 points of achieving the minimum score and had at least a “B” average in the subject matter for the preceding two school years.

Several panel members said that, while they back the concept of Burrell’s measure, they want to give top state educators time to answer legislative complaints about LEAP.

Trahan said state Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek and the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education have said they will address the concerns.