In its 2006 evaluation of state standards, the Fordham Institute said California came out at the very top, with a solid “A” grade for both math and English.

That was then.

Now, California is converting to use of the Common Core State Standards. And, a new Education Week Article, “N.Y. Test-Score Plunge Adds Fuel to Common-Core Debate,” provides interesting clues that adopting Common Core State Standards may not be the best move for the Golden State.

EdWeek reports:

“On Aug. 8, California reported slight declines for grades 2-11 on its Standardized Testing and Reporting, or star, exams in English and math.

In a statement, schools Superintendent Tom Torlakson said the declines—the first time in several years that scores did not rise on both tests—were in part the result of schools’ 'transition to the Common Core State Standards.' However, the star assessments weren’t altered to reflect the standards this year.”

Let's think about that. California’s teachers start teaching to Common Core, and then test scores drop on their old test, which has not been changed to Common Core standards?

Doesn’t that make it seem like teaching to Common Core is reducing performance, not raising it?

It may be that just to stay even, kids in California are going to need “More than Core.”

If someone in California is really smart, they will keep on using the STAR tests for a few more years, just to see if they are getting an inflated picture once their Common Core aligned tests are on line.