Lower Grades Expected on Common Cores Tests

Hauppauge students in grades three through eight began taking Common Core tests in English and language arts (ELA) and mathematics Tuesday.

The common core curriculum, adopted by 42 states so far, is a national standard to align student learning and better prepare them for college and careers.

The Common Core Learning Standards are considered the most challenging state assessment students have seen as students are expected to understand more complex works of literature, spend more time analyzing non-fiction texts and explore real-world applications of mathematical reasoning. 

John King, Jr., New York State Commissioner of Education, stated that parents should expect to see a decrease in scores by 15- to 30-percent from last year. 

As the difficult tests approach, some parents are debating to have their children opt-out of the exams citing high stress placed upon students to meet the new standards, as well as the idea that such testing takes away from the classroom curriculum. 

On Facebook, a handful of "opt out" groups have formed, like this one here, in which parents share information, resources, opinions and anecdotes regarding the idea that their children can refuse to participate in the testing. However, according to this article published by the New York State Association of School Attorneys, New York State education law does not allow for opting out of the tests except in certain special education circumstances.

Via the Hauppauge Patch Facebook page, community members debated the topic.

Lori Atkinson Griffin thinks the state relies too much on testing.

“New York definitely overuses standardized tests and eliminates precious time that could be used doing authentic assessment or molding curriculum to fit the specific needs of the kids in the class,” she said.

Amy Henmc put it bluntly.

“I have just one word: Finland,” she wrote.

George Murphy and Damion Cocchi both said that the state overuses standardized testing and parents should have the right to opt-out.

“The focus is on testing not on education,” said Cocchi.

The ELA testing will take place April 16, 17 and 18. The mathmatics portion of the tests will take place April 24, 25 and 26.

What's your take on student testing? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.