A proposal by the state superintendent of public instruction to combine standardized tests administered to students received a cool response from the Arizona Board of Education.

Superintendent Tom Horne has proposed that the state AIMS test and the national Stanford 9 test be combined and launched by 2005 to reduce student testing time and save money.

“Arizona students are over-tested to a point it’s interfering with their learning,” Mr. Horne said.

But members of the Board of Education expressed concerns about the proposal Oct. 27.

Tests should be viewed as part of learning, said Arizona State University President Michael Crow, a board member. Tests are “a way to build discipline and build performance as a person.”

Other members questioned whether a valid test could be ready by 2005. Most wanted Mr. Horne to slow down the proposal.

Board Vice President Matthew Diethelm, a retired Intel Corp. executive, said the board is busy expanding the AIMS test and needs time to explore the effect of something new.

“We have the right things going on. Let’s improve them and make them work before we install changes,” he said. —