Sacramento

California Board Moves to Accommodate New Common Core Test

The California Board of Education has suspended the state's school accountability system for one year to give teachers and students time to adjust to new standardized tests aligned with the Common Core standards.

The board voted at a Wednesday meeting in Sacramento not to produce an Academic Performance Index for the 2014-15 school year. The index uses student results on statewide tests to rank schools and to identify those that need improvement.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson says it wouldn't be fair to evaluate schools on this year's scores because the new Smarter Balanced tests are too different from the state's previous tests to produce meaningful comparisons.

The new tests have angered some parents and teachers across the nation who say the exams distract from real learning, put added stress on students and staff members, and waste resources, especially in poor districts.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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