Testing is the engine that drives the standard. Despite the claim that Common Core gives teacher more flexibility it does the exact, it forces teachers to “teach to the test” severely limiting their ability to tailor curricula to the needs of their students. David Coleman ssaid it very clearly,
“If you put something on an assessment in my view you are ethically obligated to take responsibility that kids will practice it 100 times.”
Thankfully, some lawmakers are starting to understand this fact and pulling away from the testing associated with Common Core. Governor Pence of Indiana announced today that Indiana is withdrawing from the PARCC testings consortia. Via Truth in American Education:
Indianapolis – Governor Mike Pence today issued a letter to Mitchell Chester, Governing Board Chair of the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC), in regard to withdrawing Indiana as a member of the PARCC Governing Board, effective August 12, 2013.
On May 11, 2013, the Governor signed HEA 1427 into law, which provides for a comprehensive evaluation, and allows for reconsideration, of the Common Core State Standards that were adopted by the State Board of Education in August of 2010. The legislation also curtails the state of Indiana’s participation in a consortium such as PARCC.
“Indiana’s educational standards must be rigorous, enable college and career readiness, and align with postsecondary educational expectations to best prepare our children to compete with their national and global peers,” said Governor Pence. “Assessments must also align with these high standards. I support the legislative intent of HEA 1427 and firmly believe it is the right and responsibility of the state to make independent, fiscally responsible decisions regarding standards and assessments for the good of all the people of Indiana.”
Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz must also submit a letter of intent to PARCC’s Governing Board Chair in order for the state’s withdrawal from the PARCC Governing Board to go into effect.
Slowly but surely, we’ll defeat Common Core, one state at a time.