State Sen.

Mitch Seabaugh, R-Newnan, wants the Georgia Legislature to take a closer

look at how standardized tests are used to evaluate students in Georgia's

public schools.

Seabaugh, who

is on the Senate Education Committee, is asking for the Senate to form

a five-member committee to study those norm-reference tests. In a corresponding

resolution he filed March 2, Seabaugh notes that the increased reliance

on such tests to advance to the next grade level (and receive a high school

diploma) warrants the study.

Seabaugh said

Friday that he hopes the committee will be able to come up with recommendations

that would result in a pilot testing program to be used at several schools.

"I want

us to look for innovative ways to assess our school systems," Seabaugh

said.

Some standardized

tests have been criticized for how often they are administered in Georgia

schools, Seabaugh noted. He also said some have claimed the tests are

racially and socioeconomically biased.

Seabaugh's

resolution has been referred to the Senate's Education Committee. If the

plan is adopted, the committee would conduct meetings to look into the

matter and make a report on its findings and recommendations no later

than Dec. 1.

Seabaugh has

made education one of his top priorities, assigning one of his staff members

to exclusively cater to assisting local educators with related legislative

matters.