Common Core State Standards: Pros and Cons

New Common Core Assessments Who is creating them? SMARTER-Balanced Assessment Consortium Who else is using these tests? Currently 29 states What is the purpose? To develop a comprehensive and innovative assessment system for grades 3-8 and grade 11 in English Language Arts and Mathematics aligned to the Common Core Standards so that students leave high school prepared for post secondary success in college or a career. What will happen to CSTs? These tests will replace CST, CMA, and STS. We will take the last STAR assessments in the spring of 2014.