Topeka ? If state legislators took a test designed for Kansas junior high and high school students and didn’t have to reveal their scores, would they:

A. Risk ridicule by truthfully stating that they answered some of the questions incorrectly;

B. Say they did better on the test than they had; or

C. All of the above?

It was a little of all of the above Monday as lawmakers were challenged to answer sample questions from the statewide tests.

“Kansas Take the Test Day” was designed to show lawmakers the knowledge that Kansas students are expected to acquire.

But the exercise evolved into a debate about the merits of testing and whether Kansas was doing too much testing, too little or the right amount.

“It’s either advancing the cause of education in Kansas or it is not,” Rep. Ralph Tanner, R-Baldwin, and chairman of the House Education Committee, said of the assessment. “I think it is, but we shouldn’t get carried away” with too much testing.

Members of the House and Senate education committees were given sample questions covering reading, science, math and social studies. The state also tests students in writing.

Abstract algebra

Many members, including Tanner, a former college president with a doctorate degree in history, admitted answering some of the questions incorrectly, especially an algebraic question designed for 10th graders.

Andy Tompkins, commissioner of the State Department of Education, said it is not uncommon to miss questions on the 10th-grade math test and that reflects a need to introduce students at an earlier age to algebra and geometry.

“We don’t have a personal history as a nation of learning algebra and geometry before high school,” Tompkins said.

Some lawmakers asked Tompkins if Kansas should make the tests more “high stakes,” and require students to pass them before going to the next grade.

Tompkins said such a test would require “a major expense” to develop and train instructors. And, he said, the rigorousness of the Kansas tests seems to be working with students.

But Tompkins noted that because of the recent federal education bill signed into law by President Bush, Kansas students can expect to be tested more frequently.

For example, a student in Kansas is tested in reading and math once in elementary school, middle school and high school. But under the federal legislation, by the 2005-2006 school year, students in grades three through eight will be tested annually in reading and math.

In addition to the testing-taking in the Capitol, more than 150 school districts are participating in giving the test to parents, service clubs and other community groups, officials said.

Lawrence to take test

The Lawrence school board will presented the test at its next meeting Monday. Marlene Merrill, assessments director for the Lawrence school district, will provide an overview of the tests. Members will be able to take it then, if they choose.

The Journal-World found some volunteer test-takers Monday in Lawrence, including school board member Scott Morgan. The test-takers had no problems with sample questions about geography, social science and science.

Morgan, an attorney, had no trouble with a question on the social studies test for 11th-graders. He put in proper sequence events leading to amendment of the Constitution.

Morgan said the question was appropriate for a junior in high school . But, he said, the question illustrated the limitations of standardized testing.

“You could answer the question correctly and still not have a very good understanding of the purpose and function of our Constitution,” he said. “I think it would be very difficult to write a multiple-choice test that determines if a student knows enough to be a contributing member of our community.”

Individuals wishing to take a sample test can find the assessments online at www.ksde.org.

Staff writer Scott Rothschild can be reached at (785) 354-4222.

Staff writer Tim Carpenter contributed to this report.