Use Common Core, but test less

Cincinnati Enquirer: The new state education tests are a mess.

Students across Ohio are facing a whole new layer of evaluation with the state’s adoption of Common Core, outraging teachers and prompting some parents to opt their kids out of the new tests. Opponents of the Common Core standards have latched onto these growing pains as another reason the standards themselves need to go.

We agree that the amount of time students spend taking state and district tests needs to be reduced. It’s time to re-prioritize education over testing.

At the same time, the Common Core standards are critically important to ensure the success of Ohio students. The standards remain the best way to ensure students are competitive in a global economy.

America’s greatness

Common Core strengthens and sustains America’s greatness by demanding students’ best work, regardless of where they study, and setting them up to succeed outside the classroom, regardless of where they’ll live.

Let’s ensure students have the time they need to conquer tougher standards, not waste their time with additional, unnecessary tests.