New standardized tests are coming to Louisiana classrooms in March. The exams are aligned with Common Core education standards. Some parents oppose their children taking the new tests. They believe the design of the PARCC exam would be harmful due to Common Core curriculum.
Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Chairman Chas Roemer is encouraging participation despite the objection. "It's important for a district's accountability, and it's also important to assess where the child's strengths and weaknesses are at this point in time," Roemer said.
Governor Jindal has issued an executive order that calls on BESE to have an alternate test for those students who opt-out of Common Core. Roemer counters that directive, saying Jindal doesn't have the constitutional authority to require an alternate exam and that the governor is creating chaos simply for his own political interest.