Listen Live
Donate
 on air
Schedule

KCRW

Read & Explore

  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Food
  • Culture
  • Events

Listen

  • Live Radio
  • Music
  • Podcasts
  • Full Schedule

Information

  • About
  • Careers
  • Help / FAQ
  • Newsletters
  • Contact

Support

  • Become a Member
  • Become a VIP
  • Ways to Give
  • Shop
  • Member Perks

Become a Member

Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

DonateGive Monthly

Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
Cookie Policy
|FCC Public Files

Back to Which Way, L.A.?

Which Way, L.A.?

Common Core Test Scores Paint a Somber Picture in California

Parents and teachers can't say they were not warned, but the first results from Common Core testing, released today, are still disappointing. A majority of the kids in California's public schools are not performing up to grade level. Poor, minority children do worse than whites and Asians, and the gap has widened.

  • rss
Download MP3
  • Share
By Warren Olney • Sep 10, 2015 • 21m Listen

The State Department of Education today released the results of tests taken this spring by California school children. They cover grades three through eight and grade eleven. They're the first to be taken using computers— and subject to the standards called Common Core — adopted by California and 41 other states. Parents and teacher were warned the scores would be disappointing -- and they are. The saving grace is that federal penalties won't be imposed yet, and by the time Washington decides what to do, the scores might be better. We ask the State Superintendent of Education and others what they're doing to make that happen.

Photo: Michael Surran

More

  • Blume on the sobering picture of student achievement

  • California Department of Education on the new online testing program

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Jenny Hamel

    KCRW

  • KCRW placeholder

    Christine Detz

    Producer, 'To the Point'

    News
Back to Which Way, L.A.?