Hechinger Reports: Are the Common Core tests turning out to be a big success or a resounding failure?

Hechinger isn’t exactly a conservative operation (HQ at Columbia Teachers College in New York City), but they are increasingly raising questions about the viability of the Common Core.

In their latest post, “Are the Common Core tests turning out to be a big success or a resounding failure?” this education news crew says:

“Last week, technical issues brought testing to a halt in three states, while in yet more states, thousands of parents refused to let their students sit for exams that are expected to be much harder than the old state tests they are replacing. This all comes at a time when the standards, the tests and how test scores are used are being fiercely debated by school boards, state legislatures and the U.S. Congress.”

Hechinger also points out:

“Meanwhile in New York, over 150,000 students opted not to take that state’s Common Core-aligned tests. And across the country in Portland, Oregon, just about five percent of students opted out of the tests. Federal funding is at risk when more than five percent of students don’t take mandated annual tests, though it is unclear whether or how states or districts will be punished.”

So far, things have not been as dramatic here in Kentucky as they have been in states like New York, but there is no question that Common Core and testing pushback is growing in the Bluegrass State, too. On the technical issues side, the state and the ACT, Inc. were never able to fix the problems with the high school End-of-Course exams open response written answer questions, and they still are not being used.

Since we are still several weeks away from the primary end-of-year test period (Old Man Winter had something to do with that), it’s too soon to say if there will be more online testing problems, as well. But, Kentucky has had issues with online testing in the past as I discuss here and here.

Also, protesting here seems to be on the increase a bit. I don’t think last week’s protest during US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s visit to Louisville would have happened a year or so ago.

So, stand by for more.