In 2012, after creating and launching the Common Core, David Coleman accepted the leadership of the College Board, which is in charge of the SAT. At that time, his compensation package was about $750,000. That’s a good starting salary.

The SAT was reconfigured to match the Common Core, and now the results are in. A barely perceptible rise in scores, and the achievement gap remains static. How many billions did that cost Bill Gates and taxpayers? Coleman says that the point of the SAT is “not higher scores” but “the opportunity [for students] to own their future.”

Politico reports:

SAT SCORES RISE, AS DO THE NUMBERS OF TEST-TAKERS: High school students did slightly better on the SAT this year compared with last year, but more than half still aren’t considered ready for college-level courses, according to the College Board’s annual look at student performance and participation on the test. Caitlin Emma has the full story.

— The average score on the test was 1,068, out of of 1,600, compared with 1,060 last year. About 47 percent of students this year scored well enough on math and English that the College Board deemed them prepared for entry-level college courses, compared with 46 percent last year. The College Board considers a college-ready score in English to be a 480 or higher out of 800. In math, it’s a 530 or higher. Seventy percent of all test takers hit that benchmark in English, compared with 49 percent in math.

— Racial achievement gaps persist. This year, just 21 percent of African-American students and 31 percent of Hispanic/Latino students hit both benchmarks in math and English, compared with 59 percent of white students. Those figures were also about the same last year.

— But College Board leaders say recent changes to the test and prep are meant to address inequity. The SAT underwent a major redesign in an effort to make it more reflective of what students are actually learning in the classroom. The revamped test, which debuted in 2016, scrapped obscure vocabulary questions and focuses on evidence-based reading and writing, for example. The College Board has also worked to provide millions of students with free test prep materials through the company Khan Academy, to offset the advantage that wealthier students are able to gain through paid test prep. College Board also began piloting a digital SAT this year.

— “Five years ago, we made a promise to transform the SAT into a test that delivers opportunities,” College Board CEO David Coleman said in a statement. “We changed the test itself, upended the landscape of costly test prep by offering free, personalized practice for all, and propelled students forward with fee waivers and scholarship opportunities. What is at stake is not higher scores. It’s students having the opportunity to own their future.”