I am not going to link to the News & Observer editorial, “NC should move ahead on national testing linked to Common Core.” If you want to read it, then be my guest, but I am not going to facilitate it.
Obviously, N&O editors want the state to go ahead and adopt Common Core tests developed by either the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) or the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC).
Here are a few thoughts on the editorial:
1. The editors fail to mention that the Common Core tests cost much more than the current testing program. According to the NC Department of Public Instruction, the per student cost of the test is as follows:
EOG/EOC: $11.23
SBAC: $22.50
PARCC: $29.50
The above estimates do not include the cost of technology upgrades required to administer the SBAC or PARCC tests.
2. NC DPI officials, not evil Republican legislators, recommended that the state continue current assessments through 2015 and convene “a focus group to consider all options and to make a recommendation for action.” Yet, the editors take a swipe at the Republican-led legislature anyway. That’s pathetic.
3. The editors write, “The standards that the states established were hard-won after much study and discussion.” I’d ask, study and discussion by whom? And why didn’t the N&O publish reports of this extensive study and discussion when the deliberations occurred?
4. The N&O editors make their recommendation despite the fact that “Some teachers favor a delay because the switch will be highly stressful.” Why don’t they respect teachers? The N&O’s war on teachers continues.
5. It’s ridiculous that the N&O chose to quote Common Core proponent and former governor Jim Hunt, rather than Common Core proponent and current governor Pat McCrory.
