Testing and Assessments

April 12, 2017

High schools turning to student portfolios to assess academic progress

Across California, 34 high schools and 12 districts have formed a network to promote performance-based assessments, including portfolios. These are the end product of months of intense collaboration, research, critical thinking and multiple revisions that students typically present in their senior year.

Ashley Hopkinson

April 6, 2017

College readiness program aims to boost AP scores

The National Math + Science Initiative program has led to improved Advanced Placement test scores in more than 725 schools in 34 states over three years.

Theresa Harrington

February 28, 2017

Two California schools among hundreds in U.S. taking international test to compare themselves globally

More than 100 U.S. schools are using an international test of 15-year-olds to see how they stack up against others around the world.

Theresa Harrington

February 23, 2017

California education officials reject Long Beach's request to replace statewide assessment with SAT

Citing duplication, the state's third-largest district sought to drop the 11th-grade Smarter Balanced test.

John Fensterwald

January 29, 2017

California will administer new pilot science test despite U.S. Department of Education ruling

State officials will administer the new test, not the old test in place since the 1990s.

Pat Maio

January 18, 2017

U.S. Education Department rejects California’s science testing plans

The U.S. Department of Education has rejected California’s request to begin administering online tests this spring based on new science standards.

Pat Maio

December 21, 2016

California appeals federal decision on state science testing

California education officials have appealed the U.S. Department of Education’s decision to reject the state’s request to begin phasing in new science tests this spring.

Pat Maio

December 13, 2016

Federal government insists again that California administer old science tests

If California does what the U.S. Department of Education says it should do, some students could end up taking two standardized science tests instead of one this spring.

Louis Freedberg

December 6, 2016

U.S. math scores decline on international test of 15-year-olds

PISA tests show a lower-than-average percentage of U.S. students were high-performing in math, while a higher-than-average percentage of U.S. students were below proficient in math last year.

Theresa Harrington

November 29, 2016

International test shows slight progress in math, science

The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, or TIMSS, assessed 4th-graders, 8th-graders and advanced 12th-graders in 2015.

Theresa Harrington

October 27, 2016

California making strides in science but results are still lagging most other states

The national test results show scores from 4th- and 8th-graders.

Pat Maio

October 25, 2016

California officials reject federal government's push to administer old science tests

State officials plan to administer a pilot test aligned with new science standards.

Pat Maio

October 13, 2016

Duel between California and Obama administration over education continues

The education department rejected the state's request for a science testing waiver.

Louis Freedberg

June 7, 2016

Parents to receive easier-to-read reports on Smarter Balanced test scores

2016 reports will show how students progressed from last year to this year.

Theresa Harrington

May 18, 2016

CORE districts turn spotlight on struggling student groups

Reducing the subgroup size gives a more complete picture of performance, a new study finds.

John Fensterwald