Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium Articles

Walker Defunds Smarter Balanced Test, But Replacement Exam Also Aligned With Common Core

Walker, a likely 2016 contender, has recently affirmed what has been true of Wisconsin school districts all along – that they can choose their own standards. To his credit, he has also proposed defunding the Smarter Balanced test, a product of one of the federally funded, interstate Common Core test consortia. Grassroots parents groups, however, say Walker’s proposed new state exam – called the “Badger Exam,” is also aligned with the Common Core standards.

Dr. Susan Berry

27 Jun 2015, 9:03 AM PDT

New Lawsuit Challenges Constitutionality of Common Core

The Thomas More Law Center (TMLC) announced Monday that it has joined in filing a lawsuit against the governor of North Dakota and other officials that claims the state’s participation in one of the federally funded interstate Common Core test consortia and the implementation of the Common Core standards is unconstitutional and violates federal laws that ban federal control of public schools and curriculum.

Dr. Susan Berry

22 Jun 2015, 11:30 AM PDT

NH Gov. Maggie Hassan Vetoes Bill to Prohibit Implementing Common Core

Gov. Maggie Hassan (D) of New Hampshire has vetoed a bill that would have prohibited the state’s Department of Education and the State Board of Education from implementing the Common Core standards in any school or school district in the state.

Dr. Susan Berry

8 May 2015, 6:36 PM PDT

Former US Education Department Official: State Legislatures ‘Forced’ Colleges to Use Common Core Test

Colleges in six states will use the Smarter Balanced Common Core-aligned test for placement to determine that students are “college-ready” and do not need to take remedial classes, but a former U.S. Education Department official told Breitbart News the decision to use the test was forced on the colleges by their state legislatures.

Dr. Susan Berry

4 May 2015, 5:52 AM PDT

Gov. Scott Walker and the Problem of Common Core

Conservative leaders are frustrated with Gov. Scott Walker’s lack of commitment to full repeal of the Common Core standards. Here’s a full review of his tenure, and the steps he’s taken during those years.

Dr. Susan Berry

22 Mar 2015, 12:49 PM PDT

Missouri Judge Rules ‘Smarter Balanced’ Common Core Test Consortium Unconstitutional

A county judge has ruled that Missouri’s membership fees to the federally funded Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) is unconstitutional under the Compact Clause of the U.S. Constitution as well as under “state and federal law.”

Dr. Susan Berry

25 Feb 2015, 1:14 PM PDT

Common Core Tests to Cost Millions More than Expected in Wisconsin

Testing Wisconsin students with the new assessments aligned with the Common Core standards is expected to cost at least $7.2 million over the original estimate, according to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI).

Dr. Susan Berry

19 Jan 2015, 6:55 PM PDT