SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today issued the following statement after a federal announcement that states may receive the flexibility needed to avoid "double testing" students as they transition to a new generation of assessments:

"Secretary Duncan's announcement regarding testing flexibility is good news for students and schools as we make the transition to new assessments based on California's career- and college-ready standards. Double testing would have taken up time students need to learn, and could have made our move to new assessments even more challenging. I will urge the State Board of Education to take advantage of this opportunity."