Special to the Chronicle

Is your child tired of all the tests the state requires?

The Senate is making progress to cut those tests.

The Senate may vote this week on S. 419, a comprehensive bill with many K-12 education reforms.

The bill would permanently eliminate 3 statemandated tests: social studies in 5th and 7th grades and science in 8th grade.

The only state-required tests would be an end of course test for US History/ Constitution for high school juniors and a literacy assessment for 3rd graders.

“Fortunately, we finally made some progress,” reports Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey who represents Lexington County.

The Senate voted to stop accepting amendments and move toward a final vote.

Highlights of bill:

• Reduces paperwork teachers must complete for student learning objectives.

• Allow high school graduates who have earned Palmetto Fellows or Life scholarships to use those funds at technical colleges.

• Provide more scholarships to education majors through Palmetto Fellows and Life Enhancement scholarships. The new scholarships would offer prospective teachers up to $2,500 more a year.

• Require school board members to follow a uniform code of ethics and receive training for their service on the school board.

• Establish a method to turn around failing schools and remove boards in chronically failing districts.

• Provide summer reading camps after kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grades.

• Give elementary school teachers a 30-minute, dutyfree lunch period.

• Save new teachers about $500 each by paying for certification costs.

• Raise reimbursement to teachers from $275 a year to $550 for classroom supplies they pay for.

• Expands state-funded 4k program to all districts. Students with family income less than 185% of poverty would be eligible.