This prediction will puzzle, upset, and maybe infuriate a great many readers — and, of course, it could turn out to
be wrong — but enough clues, tips, tidbits, and intuitions have converged in recent weeks that I feel obligated to make it: I expect that PARCC and Smarter Balanced (the two federally subsidized consortia of states that
are developing new assessments meant to
be aligned with Common Core standards) will fade away, eclipsed and supplanted by long - established yet fleet - footed testing firms that already possess the infrastructure, relationships, and durability that give them
huge advantages in the competition for state and district business.