Schools Make Way For New Curriculum, Tests

SANTA BARBARA — The paper and pencil based standardized tests will soon go to the wayside. Starting in the 2014-2015 school year, students will have to answer questions using critical thinking. State School Superintendent Tom Torlakson is proposing the new curriculum and testing system called Common Core for grades K-12. It focuses on problem solving. “There will be less emphasis on rote memorization and more emphasis on critical thinking, problem solving, working together, collaborating, communication, accessing resources,” explained Santa Barbara Unified School District Superintendent Dr. David Cash. The California Department of Education doesn’t think multiple choice and fill-in-the-bubble tests get the job done anymore. Torlakson wants real world assessments to make sure once students graduate, they can succeed in college and beyond. Because recent graduates don’t take Scantron tests on the job. “I’ve had many employers tell me that exactly. What they want when students get out, whenever they finish their education, they want employees to think critically, think on their feet, problem solve, know how to communicate with other people. Those are all the things we haven’t done a good job intentionally teaching in our K-12 system. I think the Common Core is going to help us do that better,” said Dr. Cash. Common Core is becoming the new national curriculum and testing standard and is being adopted by 44 states and Washington D.C. California’s existing standardized testing, known as the STAR program, is slated to sunset in 2014 making way for Common Core. That means multiple assessments throughout the year instead of one final test at the end that students and their parents are used to. “All the scores will be used to determine kind of the schools ranking,” said Dr. Cash. Teachers are currently playing the part of student while they learn how they will be teaching the new curriculum. Common Core has already established guidelines for English and math courses but soon social studies and science will join in the new system.