The results of New York State's testing of their 3-8 students have been published. Our colleagues Diane Ravitch and Peter DeWitt have spoken out in angry righteousness. Everyone knew scores would decline. It was set up to happen. We were set up for it to happen to us. How do we follow those who led us into failure? How do we follow those who have ignored our alarm sounding, when we can see the horizon at the level of a child's eyes? So much for the lofty view. Can policy be good if children get hurt?

No one is surprised at the decline in proficiency. In preparation for these results, Arne Duncan spoke out "We should absolutely not be alarmed if test scores drop as a result of these more rigorous expectations and higher standards. That's because these new assessments and standards are now aligned to mark and measure what it truly takes to adequately prepare students for the real world." We have all heard the same message from New York State Commissioner King and Chancellor Tisch of the Board of Regents. It is not a single state phenomenon. All of us who are Racing to the Top know the truth here. We all saw this coming from the beginning. You cannot place a test in front of children who have not been taught the skills that are being tested. In New York State, samples of the curriculum examples, called modules, trickled out during the school year. So, if adapted or adopted at all, they were only done in part, and not with a high level of skill. Learning takes time, even for adults. This year, teachers, principals and superintendents were buried in new Common Core Standards, new evaluation systems, and diminished resources. No time to learn...just to do. So, no, we are not surprised.

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