new test designed to see whether students are meeting tougher national educational standards has been attacked by more than a few vocal critics.
But rather than lambaste the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers test, critics should take a close look at one Chicago school that chose to make the test work — with amazing results.
At Lazaro Cardenas Elementary School, which serves low-income children, students scored far above Chicago Public Schools and state averages in math. It shouldn’t be a surprise. Three years ago, Cardenas teachers committed to new nationwide educational standards, called the Common Core, and decided as a team how to redesign their tea