State Board of Education sets lower bar on Common Core tests for high school students



SEATTLE (AP) — The State Board of Education has decided to set a score below the college ready level as the Washington state graduation standard on the new Common Core tests.

The people who are creating the tests, which are also known as the Smarter Balanced exams, say a score of 3 or 4 means students are "college and career ready."

The State Board of Education decided Wednesday afternoon to set a score in the middle of the 2 range — around 2.5 — as the graduation level for the Common Core tests in Washington.

Passing the English language arts exam is a new graduation requirement in Washington state. But the new math test won't be a graduation requirement for a few more years.

The new tests were given statewide for the first time this past spring. The math and English language arts exams are given to 11th graders. But high school students also take end-of-course exams in math.