Judge Reverses Trend of Ruling Against Teacher Exams

A New York judge ruled that, unlike previous state exams that she ruled were discriminatory, the Academic Literacy Skills Test was appropriately formatted to measure teachers’ aptitude in the classroom. All potential teachers in New York must pass four competency exams as part of the state’s certification process. But the AST came under fire from schools of education and unsuccessful candidates who claimed the tests’ content and structure discriminated against blacks and Hispanics. (The New York Times)