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Students read their school work in Arlene Lebowitz's third-grade class.

On Thursday, California, along with 43 other states, announced it will adopt a new type of nationwide testing. Thanks to a federal grant of $330 million, California will replace the year-end math and English exams for the 2014-2015 school year with new tests that will better determine teacher effectiveness and student learning. It’ll also focus on measuring achievement based on national academic standards, emphasizing research and critical thinking skills. Could this new system of testing change the way students are taught in California? And, as the debate over teacher evaluations escalates, will the test benefit students and teachers alike?

Guest:

Howard Blume, Education reporter, Los Angeles Times