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Why Students Found New Tests Tough

By Paul Warren, Rebecca London

There are a variety of explanations for why California students did not do as well on the new standardized tests.

blog post

College Readiness and the New State Exams

By Jacob Jackson

Results of the new statewide tests show that about half of 11th-grade students are at least conditionally ready for college level courses in English and less than a third are ready for college level math courses.

blog post

No-Stakes Testing

By Patrick Murphy

March 18, California’s schools will pilot a new type of standardized test for students in grades three through eight and grade eleven.

Report

California’s K–12 Test Scores: What Can the Available Data Tell Us?

By Paul Warren

California’s K–12 system relies on the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) English and mathematics tests to measure student academic progress and assess school and district performance. This report uses publicly available data to explore trends in student performance during the first three years this test has been in place.

Report

Achievement in California’s Public Schools: What Do Test Scores Tell Us?

By Paul Warren, Julien Lafortune

California’s student test scores show significant progress in English—but they also show stalled gains in math and persistent income achievement gaps. State actions to improve math instruction and support struggling districts could help boost student performance.

Fact Sheet

College Readiness in California

By Iwunze Ugo, Laura Hill

More Californians are graduating from high school, but many graduates are underprepared for higher education and there are racial/ethnic and income disparities. Closing these gaps will require sustained efforts across the state's K–12 system.

Report

Implementing the Common Core State Standards in California

By Patrick Murphy, Paul Warren

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS)—adopted in 2010—are similar to California’s current K–12 standards, but their emphasis on conceptual understanding and problem solving will require changes in classroom instruction. California’s transition to the CCSS has gotten off to a slow start. Survey data suggest that many teachers will deliver the new standards for the first time in 2014–15—the first year of CCSS-based testing. Like other states, California will probably see a drop in test scores under the new standards. But as the transition continues beyond 2014–15, the hope is that the new standards and tests will create incentives that lead to higher student achievement.

blog post

Are K–12 Students Keeping Pace in Math?

By Paul Warren, Julien Lafortune

The 2018 SBAC results of California's K–12 students show modest improvements over last year. But focusing on longer-term outcomes could be more instructive.

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