LANCASTER, N.Y. – New York Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia (EE'-lee-yuh) says the state has made major changes to the Common Core English and math assessments since last year when 1 in 5 students refused to take them.
With this year's testing getting underway Tuesday, it remains to be seen whether they've changed any minds.
New York last year saw the highest rate of opt-outs in the country as parents protested the volume of testing and the high-stakes consequences for teachers, students and schools. Supporters of the opt-out movement anticipate large numbers again this year, saying the changes haven't gone far enough.
Among the biggest shifts is that student test scores won't count in teacher evaluations. The tests also will be shorter and students will have as much time as they need to finish.
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