Andrea Gabor, a professor of journalism at Baruch College, describes her experience as a member of a state committee drafting new ELA tests.
The work of this committee was set aside and replaced by the new Common Core tests.
Gabor obtained complete copies of the tests for grades 6-8, and she makes some sage observations.
Please take the time to read her observations.
New York rushed to implement Common Core tests before the curriculum or the professional development were in place.
Gabor found the tests to be culturally monochromatic, using scenarios that would be more familiar to suburban students than to urban students.
And she–an experienced writer of non-fiction–was surprised at the heavy emphasis on non-fiction.
As she notes in her comments, I had seen one form of the fifth grade test and found that its cognitive demand looked about the same as an eighth grade NAEP passages and questions.
At one point, Gabor said she felt that students were “set up for failure.” My feelings too.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
“At one point, Gabor said she felt that students were “set up for failure.” My feelings too.”
Which makes it all the more easier to send up the flag, declare failure, and then move to privatize.
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Even if these were good standards, the timing of everything is setting everyone up for failure.
The undeniable misalignment of curriculum and testing during this time of transition while at the same time teacher evaluations which are hinging on the results is a train wreck happening in slow motion! I hope it can be stopped!
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Test first, teach the material later. Oh ya, that’s some real high order thinking there. Who’s in charge here? Does Coleman put his clothes in the dryer first and then wash them and put them on wet, because this is about how stupid this is.
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I’m pressing the “like” button.
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So when you get handed your certified CCSS aligned curriculum make sure you thoroughly test your students using the enclosed aligned assessments. Then, we should be able to see the wonderfulness of the CCSS when all of your students who passed the curriculum aligned assessments ace the CCSS tests. Here’s hoping you last long enough to experience the wonderfulness.
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I’d sooner bet my life savings at the casino down the street. Here in Clark County Nevada they admit the tests are on average what we know as two to three years ahead of the children’s developmental stage. Our new superintendent, a former kindergarten teacher, openly admits that we are teaching what were third grade skills in kindergarten here in Las Vegas. They say this as if it is a good thing. I am appalled and depressed.
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Did you see the Times editorial today (6/6)? They are obviously not reading ANY of these critiques…
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With few exceptions (probably when the one guy in charge of writing education editorials for many years was on vacation), the NY Times has been a cheerleader for testing. There can never be too many for them.
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