For Release: October 29, 1998
Contact: Melissa Forsythe 502-564-2611
Elizabeth Davenport

Louisville, KY - "We need to make more parents and teachers aware that the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System (CATS) is a Kentucky test, developed by Kentucky teachers. My hope is that everyone of you all will go back to your community and spread the word that you helped develop this test," Governor Paul Patton told teachers in Louisville today.

Patton talked with over 70 teachers from across Kentucky who are meeting at the Doubletree Inn on Hurstborne Lane in Louisville to develop and select questions for the new testing system.

"I'm very interested in the test and how it is developed. The teachers here today represent every region of Kentucky and I have faith in their ability to produce a sound accountability test," Patton said. Patton and the teachers had open discussions on what they felt was important about the testing, how the test was developed, and what the areas of concerns were.

"When you're leading the way in education reform and no one else in the nation has done it, you're going to have to reevaluate occasionally, but you have to continue to move forward," Patton told a group of teachers working on the content for Social Studies questions.

Teachers developing the math content showed Patton the type of questions today's children are expected to answer. "When I see our kids being asked questions on these levels I know we are moving in the right direction. The questions they can answer today are much more advanced then anything I was taught at their age."

Patton thanked the teachers for their hard work at the week long meeting and encouraged them to spread the word about teacher involvement in the test development.

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