Tom Raffio, Chair of the State Board of Education responded to questions about the nature and meaning of terms used by Common Core and high stakes testing proponents in efforts to convince the public of their importance. Ideas such as 21st century skills, tests informing instruction, shortage of talent in the STEM fields, personalized learning and the new science standards were discussed. What emerged from such discussions was a certain quality of tentativeness especially when talking about the use of high-stakes tests as instruments that inform instruction and the preparation and competency of teachers, especially in the elementary grades, in dealing with the new science standards. The notion of accountability and evaluation of the new State Department of Education’s initiatives were also responded to with a distinct sense of uncertainty.
(Part 1)
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(Part 2)
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(Part 3)
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