Chances are your kids aren't coming home with homework assignments this week. That's because this is test week across Louisiana. Testing got underway for the annual LEAP tests in schools across the state yesterday. The difference between this year and last year is that the controversy surrounding the tests has not been as noticeable.

Hollis Milton, President of the Louisiana Association of Superintendents, explained to the Louisiana Radio Network why a good deal of the uproar about standardized testing has died down. He believes it's because educators have had more time to prepare for this years round of tests.

The biggest challenge with teachers, in anything, is time. And I think having more time has helped settled things down. The teachers have more time to prepare the kids.

Also gone from the testing are the words Common Core. This year's test is called LEAP 2016. Another reason there hasn't been the gnashing of teeth and snarling from educators and parents this year is the changes that have been made in Louisiana's educational system.

I think our state is stepping back and reviewing the standards, and I think next year are likely to be Louisiana standards.

You might recall last year a panel of educators was named to review our state's standards for what should be taught. That panel is expected to have their report ready for presentation in time to be a part of testing assessments next year.

I think some of that has given parents a pause and go along with the traditional testing with the hopes that things will be better.

Meanwhile the state is developing its own standards for math,reading, and writing. This is something that a lot of educators and parents had lobbied for in protest of the Common Core agenda.

 

 

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