It was a political tool here in Florida.  It was called the FCAT.  Originally it was to measure where a child was and identify trouble areas that a child might need help with.  JEB turned it into a way to appeal to people in the state that didn't want their kids to go to school with social undesirables.  He first made it full of rules that teachers had to keep improving their class room scores to get a raise or if the school on a whole scored well then the school would get an increase in funding.  In the meantime he cut the state budget for schools.  Then he tried to start a school voucher programs to private schools.  Charter schools were exempt from the FCAT.  So that pulled more money out of public education.  The courts ruled against his program and the Republican Lege went after teachers and unions.  We had charter schools that would just close their doors and the owners would disappear.  

When Crist became Governor with the help of the state CFO , Alex Sink, they got the schools refunded and back on track. But the FCAT was still used to punish teachers and down grade really good urban schools. 

Then came the corrupt Rick Scott administration. In my county there is a great big bran new  private Christan Charter School that looks like a college campus.  They don't have to worry about test scores on the new common core for their budget.  I now have to drive my kids to a bus hub so they can finish the rest of the way to school on the bus.  The charter kids get picked up where my kids used too.  I am now the only hold out in this neighborhood that has kids in public school. because I can take mine to the hub.  Also the little kids have to wear uniforms now to school like the charter school. It is not about education, it is about private for profit companies being paid by the state to educate kids flying a Christian flag. That spigot needs to be turned off.

The sad part is the kids aren't getting the education they need in these charter schools. I see a big difference in my kids than with the neighbors.  My kids are learning more in history and science.  The test should not be a hammer.  No one trusts how the state will use the Federal Program Common Core.  Common Core is not necessary in my opinion. The tests and workbooks only go to be corporate companies that write sloppy tests and refuse to let the teachers see the reasoning and actual scoring of the tests. 

My kids go to really good schools and they are poor and in a urban setting. The high school is in the top 2% of the public schools in the country on a national level but the state rates it as a failing school because in has too many minorities.  It is just a step towards getting rid of public schools that the Koch brothers want. People are starting to catch on in this state. 

Sorry but I tend to get up on a soap box over this.