Most third-, fourth- and fifth-graders began taking tests today, in an attempt to measure progress in the Common Core curriculum. Some parents are having their children opt out of the tests, either as a protest against the new education mandate. Rob Astorino, the former Republican gubernatorial candidate, who last year lost to Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, is not letting his kids take the test, according to Matthew Hamilton in Capitol Confidential. “Our kids deserve better than Common Core, an experiment conceived in secrecy with no public hearings or testing. There are no consequences for opting out,” he said in a statement. “The scores will not affect student records. We support higher standards for our kids, but that’s not Common Core, despite what we’ve often been told.” The tests continue at local schools through Thursday. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential.