Afternoon Announcement: New York Statewide Test Results

New York state test results in reading and math among third-eight graders dropped significantly, education officials reported earlier this week. The exams were some of the first in the nation to be aligned with the more rigorous Common Core State Standards. New York Times

Arne Duncan commented on New York state’s lower test results under the new Common Core State Standards, saying, “Too many school systems lied to children, families and communities. Finally, we are holding ourselves accountable.”Politico

The bottom line about New York state’s test results: the drop in scores was expected and is “a natural result of transitioning to more ambitious standards.” The next step will be to support teachers, ensuring they are prepared to teach to the higher standards. Eduwonk

While less than a third of New York Students in grades three through eight scored high enough on statewide tests to be considered proficient in math and English last spring, the drop can be attributed to higher standards, not a decline in student performance. Education Week