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In Reversal, California Expands Statewide Tests to 2 Subjects
Under pressure from the federal government, California is expanding a field test of computer-based assessments to test students in both math and English language arts, rather than just one subject area. A law recently signed by Gov. Jerry Brown, AB 484, (see story here) requires testing in only one subject. The change, announced yesterday by...
By LA School Report | November 22, 2013
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California Releases Updated School Quality Snapshot Tool
The California Department of Education’s School Quality Snapshot tool, a searchable database providing essential information on the performance of individual school sties across the state, has been updated with the latest possible information. Since the program was unveiled last October, more than 115,000 “snapshots” of local schools have been downloaded by Californians interested in learning...
By Chase Niesner | October 7, 2013
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Brown Signs AB 484, Ending Old Standardized Tests in California*
The old California Standardized Tests are a thing of the past. Governor Jerry Brown just signed Assembly Bill 484, which immediately suspends the old tests and funds a trial run this year of the new Smarter Balanced Assessments, which will be taken on computers and are aligned with the new Common Core curriculum. “I’ve said...
By Hillel Aron | October 2, 2013
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Coalition Calls on Gov. Brown to Veto Testing Bill, AB 484
A coalition representing “tens of thousands” of parents, teachers and education reform organizations is petitioning Governor Jerry Brown to veto a bill letting California schools off the hook for testing students while the state transitions to a new curriculum and testing model. Gov. Brown has expressed his support for AB 484 and has has until...
By Vanessa Romo | September 19, 2013
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CA Has a Plan for Using Test Scores — Even With No Tests (Updated)
While a bill awaiting Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature would end statewide testing for a year – he’s expected to sign it – state officials plan to use older test results to assure that California receives its annual Title I allocations. To comply with federal regulations that states must provide annual test results to qualify for...
By Vanessa Romo | September 13, 2013
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State Senate Approves Eliminating Testing for 2012-13
The California Senate today approved an Assembly bill that suspends statewide testing while students acclimate to the new computer-based Common Core curriculum. The legislation now heads back to the Assembly for a final vote before it reaches Governor Jerry Brown for his signature. Sponsored by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson and authored by...
By LA School Report | September 10, 2013
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Torlakson Rebuts Duncan, Defends State Testing Bill
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today shot back at U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, who expressed opposition to a bill in the California legislature that would eliminate statewide testing for a year while districts shift to new protocols aligned with Common Core. “This legislation will continue to be guided by what’s right...
By LA School Report | September 10, 2013
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State To Defray Costs of Test Fees for Low-Income Students
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today that the state will defray costs of Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) test fees for more than 129,000 low-income students across California. The $10.8 million, which will be distributed to school districts, represents nearly a third of the total funding distributed to states under the...
By Chase Niesner | September 9, 2013
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Superintendent Deasy Not Happy With Latest Testing Bill
LA Unified Superintendent John Deasy said today that he is uncomfortable with inconsistencies in the current version of Assembly Bill 484, which effectively kills the the state standardized tests, the so-called CSTs, and ushers in the new era of Common Core tests, to be taken on computers. “We had a unique opportunity in front of us...
By Hillel Aron | September 5, 2013
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California Adopts New ‘Next Gen’ Science Standards
The State Board of Education yesterday approved a new set of science standards, dubbed the Next Generation Science Standards, which emphasize “a deeper focus on understanding the cross-cutting concepts” of scientific disciplines, according to a press release by the California Department of education. The standards were developed in a collaboration with a number of states over the last 18...
By Hillel Aron | September 5, 2013