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For years, teachers unions and activists in California have protested that there’s too much testing in public schools that eats away at precious learning time.

The largest teachers union in California, United Teachers Los Angeles, is now beginning steps to challenge the number of tests given in the 650,000 student school district — or to at least document exactly how much testing is happening.

“We want a full documentation of what standardized tests are used, at what grade levels, how much instructional time they take up, how much time they take to prepare for, who the testing publishing companies are, and what they’re supposed to measure,” said UTLA President Alex Caputo-Pearl.

The school district requires too many tests, he said, so the first step is to know how many are being given.

UTLA leaders said their challenge to standardized tests will be part of a national effort ramping up next month.

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