llinois is transitioning from ISAT to PARCC (Partnership of Assessment for Readiness for College and Careers) assessment next year. Illinois is among a group of leading states participating in the field test in April or May. Classrooms have been randomly selected to take the field test, but will not receive results or scores. The students, however, will have the chance to engage in challenging math or English problems and writing exercises from a sample of the actual PARCC exam to be given in the 2014-15 school year. A letter will be sent home to the parents of students selected to participate.

Во-первых тестинг продолжался не недели, а одну неделю. Во-вторых, тестинг = практика, повторение пройденого. И что в этом плохого?

Gde kak. Nedelyu gotovilis, nedelyu testirovalis

А "готовились" означает повторяли материал/ практиковались или в футбол играли?

Kto Kak..

But reduced homework for first week
And no homework for 2nd week
Then few days to breeze here and there...

.ISAT is no where close to complexity of material that suppose to be covered at that age
Material uzhe byl povtoren vnachale goda, da i v iyune s mesta ne sdvinutsya

I hear you with the "no or reduced homework" issue, but I had my son do homework regardless of what teacher said. You can alway google for math/ science problems, print it, and have your kids do them.

:) If I could replace school with home schooling I would but I CAN'T :) so I would like school to do their part rather than spend money on buying electronic devices and changing state tests

In general I agree with your philosophy, but the point of the matter is us talking about it is not going to change shit. We can either stress about it or not. :)