Feds Issue Reminder: Test Students or Risk Losing Funding

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The U.S. Education Department has reminded 13 states that federal funding is still tied to testing students on math and language arts, despite the end of No Child Left Behind.

The department asked states with large numbers of students skipping the tests how they plan to do better.

A letter to state school chiefs last month noted that the nation's new education law still requires testing for grade 3-8 students — and that states falling short of 95 percent participation risk losing funding.

Thirteen states were asked for corrective plans. Responses reviewed by The Associated Press show many plans include outreach to parents and downgrading school ratings. None appear to carry financial consequences.

Letters went to California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington and Wisconsin.