Dive Brief:

• Louisiana State Superintendent John White and the Council of Chief State School Officers partnered with the Council of Great City Schools Wednesday, announcing that they are looking for ways to reduce what they see as over-testing in the state's public schools. 
• While the groups agree there needs to be less testing, they still plan to give an end of the year assessment for the Common Core — much to the chagrin of Gov. Bobby Jindal, who is trying to block the standards and their associated tests.  
• President Barack Obama, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, and American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten all back the idea of reducing redundant testing.  

Dive Insight:

Right after White's announcement, Duncan further explained the need for less testing, saying that in some places, tests were "dominating the calendar and culture of schools and causing undue stress for students and educators." Duncan, however, also made it clear why a year-end assessment is necessary. "Educators, parents, and policy makers need to know how much students are learning; that's why thoughtful assessment of student learning and student growth, including annual assessments, is a vital part of progress in education. Assessments must be of high quality, and must make good use of educators' and students' time," he said, according to the Times-Picayune.  

Louisiana's White suggested eliminating tests given at a local level.