Kansas Common Core Standard Foes Focus On Tests

Opponents of multistate reading and math standards adopted for Kansas public schools are pushing the state school board not to join other states to develop annual tests to measure how well students learn.

Critics of the Common Core standards urged the board Tuesday to rely on a center for educational testing at the University of Kansas to develop the annual tests.

Education Commissioner Diane DeBacker said having the Kansas center develop the tests remains an option, as is joining with one of two coalitions of states. DeBacker said the board isn’t likely to make a decision until at least November.

The board adopted the Common Core standards in 2010, concluding that they’d improve teaching. Critics worry that Kansas is giving up some control over its schools.