More Than 1 Million Illinois Students to Take New Standardized Test

Illinois State Board of Education officials announced Monday that third to eighth graders and some high school students will take the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers assessment. They say it reflects the demands of new learning standards.

However, Chicago Public Schools officials initially said they'd opt out. CPS changed course on Monday, saying they'd administer it to about 230,000 students. CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett says there was the possibility of losing funds otherwise, though she still didn't feel administering the tests was in students' best interest.

The Chicago Teachers Union and parent groups object to the exams over concerns of too much emphasis on tests.

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