State Board of Education to set bar for Common Core tests

SEATTLE (AP) — The State Board of Education plans to decide on Wednesday how well Washington high school students need to do on the new Common Core tests in order to earn a passing score.

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. High school students are required to pass the exams to earn a diploma.

A large number of high school students skipped the tests when they were given this year, so state education officials are using alternative methods for figuring out what score means students are proficient in the subject matter and are ready for career and college-level work.

In 22 school districts, more than half of the 11th grade students did not take either the math or English tests this spring.