Wyo. Moves To Eliminate PAWS Test For Juniors

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming is moving ahead with plans to eliminate a state proficiency exam for high school juniors next year even though federal education officials say the state should keep it.

The Associated Press reported that the state board of education voted on Monday to amend a contract with its testing company to remove the Proficiency Assessments for Wyoming Students, or PAWS, for high school juniors.

Earlier this year, the state Legislature directed the education department to discontinue the PAWS test for juniors and replace it with the ACT.

Wyoming students have protested over the years that the PAWS test is too long. The 2010 test was plagued with software problems.

The U.S. Department of Education has asked the state to administer both PAWS and ACT for one more year to collect data.