Discussions about changing standardized testing in schools are swirling around the Legislature, and one local administrator said change can be a good thing.

Changes to the No Child Left Behind law are being considered by a Republican-controlled U.S. Senate. The law signed by President George W. Bush in 2002 requires states to test students on reading and math proficiency.

International Falls schools Superintendent Kevin Grover told The Journal this week change has its pros and cons, but overall is necessary to keep up with the way students are learning.

“We are teaching things differently today than we did 10, 20, 30 years ago,” Grover said, noting Minnesota received a waiver from the NCLB law in 2012. “There are a variety of suggestions coming out and it’s hard to say where it’ll all end...Things could change at the state and federal level.”

Grover said finding an assessment tool that works for everyone for standardized testing can be challenging.

“We need to measure student achievement,” he said. “The trick is finding a fair tool to measure that achievement that works for every district in the state or county.”

Scores for tests taken in the spring of 2014 showed the Falls district landed above the state average in its math scores; reading and science fell below the rest of the state average mark. And this year as teachers prepare for the spring tests, Grover said they will focus on math should the tests continue to be required.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if tweaks are made at the state and federal level,” he said. “Like anything, we need to look at how we’re doing and there needs to be a way of monitoring.”

A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate would eliminate annual testing requirements in favor of what’s called grade span testing, which would still monitor progress and how the system is doing, but it would be done over time.

“We need to find where kids are struggling and suggest the best practices for them,” Grover said.

One way staff at Falls schools have considered data is through the district’s new early-out schedule. Grover said at both schools, data is being looked at, and discussions are occurring on whats working and what isn’t.

“I think early outs are going to help us in the long run,” Grover said, adding whenever a group collaborates, good things happen. “I hope we see drastic changes instantly, but I am a realist and I know these things take time.”