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Thursday, November 7, 2013

States’ testing exec embraces California’s controversial decision for Common Core tests EdSource Today

EdSource Today:

Joe Willhoft discussed the forthcoming Common Core field test before the State Board.
Joe Willhoft discussed the forthcoming Common Core field test before the State Board.
The executive director of Smarter Balanced, a consortium of states developing the new Common Core assessments, said he supports California’s decision to give the field, or practice, test in the new standards to all students next spring, rather than limit the pilot to a small test group as other states are doing.
“The field test is a great opportunity to pressure-test” districts’ capacity to handle computer-based assessments, Joe Willhoft said in comments Wednesday before the State Board of Education. “I applaud California for its decision to expand to as many schools as possible.”
Willhoft’s remarks won’t solve the state’s conflict over the field test with the U.S. Department of Education, which is threatening to withhold an estimated $45 million it gives the state Department of Education to administer federal Title I programs and standardized tests. But Willhoft did support the state’s reasoning, and he said he wished more of the 26 Smarter Balanced states had followed California’s example.
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has offered to exempt school districts and states from giving their state standardized tests for grades 3 through 8 and 11 if they give the Common Core 


State board backs off integrated science standards in middle school - by Kathryn Baron
In a surprise move that disappointed California’s top educator but relieved some teachers, the State Board of Education on Wednesday backed away from a proposal that would have radically changed the way middle school students learn science. The State Board had been expecting to vote on a recommendation to teach integrated ... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit the Edsource Today website for

Building school district stability extends beyond the superintendent - by Charles Taylor Kerchner / Special to EdSource
The Los Angeles Unified School District board bought itself a little stability last week when it extended Superintendent John Deasy’s contract for a year by handing him a “satisfactory” rating in his annual evaluation. Buying stability can be a good thing; it’s a key to educational success. “Stability helps move toward continuous improvement,” said ... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit the