Common Core: Where Winning Federal Grant Money Equals Student Losses

The Common-Core Slot Machine:  Another Winner?

Well, another round of common-core testing in New York State has drawn to a close--or has it?  Just when you think you've heard it all, something else surfaces to convince us all that we are surely living in a theater of the absurd.

Elementary school kids in grades three through eight suffered through six days of ELA and Math testing in April and on into early May.  One would think the nightmare would be over.  It may not be over.

I read in Friday's Post that some third-grade versions of the test had errors.  There was a printing error.  Gutenberg must be rolling over in his grave.  But then, again, these tests are no Bible. 


Tom Dunn, a spokesman, said the errors only affected one in four of the third-grade forms.  I think "only" might be an understatement.  It sounds pretty significant, especially since tests like these are supposed to be the holy grail of evaluation. 


Dunn said schools were advised of possible solutions, including handing students a different version (I doubt there were many readily available) or allowing students to retake the test during the makeup week.  Can you imagine making little kids suffer through more examination nonsense because of errors like these? 


Although reformers hope to use these tests to take down teachers, the students seem to be the ones hurt the most so far.  Last June, McGraw Hill was given a contract to scan Regents essays for electronic grading.  They flubbed it in a big way.  Scanners couldn't keep up.  Graduations were marred by uncertain results.  Parts of essays were covered in poor attempts to cover students' names.  There were major glitches, more delays and some lost exams.  Who will evaluate the evaluators?