Monterey students prep for Common Core testing

Students across the Central Coast are gearing up for the yearly state testing. But this year it’s a whole new ball game with the Common Core design. NewsChannel 5 went inside a classroom for some of the practice runs this week to see if there are any challenges ahead of the real test.

Students at Walter Colton Middle School in Monterey spent time learning the keys and preparing for the state test, now called the “Smarter Balance Assessment Consortium” or the SBAC.

Seventh grader Jessica Frost said it wasn’t too hard for her to ease into the new test taking system. In fact she likes the challenge.

“If you get a bunch of questions right, then they get progressively harder. If you get questions wrong they get easier. So it adapts to your skill level,” Frost said.

That is the biggest difference with the new Common Core tests for English and math. It’s all done online and the results are instant. No more sending away the tests to find the results. Students were given a form to train and take notes, focusing on the tools for the online state assessment test.

California is among 21 other states doing the SBAC tests.

“We’re in a day in education where, learning should feel difficult, and kids should feel good about being challenged,” Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Assistant Superintendent Rhoda Mhiripir said.

Mhiripir said the district has academic coaches to prepare teachers and students for the test taking, but aren’t concerned because this is the first year for the new tests.

“We’re not going to worry about the scores we just want students feeling good about it,” Mhiripir said.

State educational officials said this first round of tests will reveal just how well the new Common Core teaching standard is working and where it can improve. Paper versions of the test will be available to schools without enough computers. Students will take the real tests when they get back from spring break.