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EASTCHESTER, N.Y. – Beginning on Tuesday, Eastchester students in grades 3 through 8 will be put to the test as they take the state English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics assessments.
Both teachers and students will be more rigorously evaluated this year, as the Common Core Learning Standards have been revamped to set higher standards to develop more critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
Parents and students should expect lower scores due to the more difficult exams, said Rob Hattar, director of curriculum and instruction for the Eastchester Schools.
“Commissioner of Education John King has stated that he anticipates scores will decline as compared to prior years,” he said. “This is because the 2013 ELA and mathematics assessments will reflect the increased rigor of the CCLS.”
King issued a video for parents, advising them that test scores were likely to drop as the state sets higher standards. He said this would be a new starting point that would give a clearer picture of where students are so they can graduate and be ready to contribute to their communities.
“The assessments will include more complex reading passages and mathematics questions that require a deeper level of analytic thinking,” Hattar added.
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