NYTimes article on E.D. Hirsch Jr.'s comeback

The NYTimes seems sympathetic to E.D. Hirsch as it focused on his influence and the implementation of the CCSS (Common Core State Standards) through his foundation and less on his book. I was interested in Hirsch's quote at the end of the article expressing his concern that the CCSS not be used for standardization purposes, a huge concern as standardization spreads in all directions. It has been illuminating to watch the approach of the 2014 GED test partnered by GED Testing Service and Pearson, the IT giant in education, which is a huge switch from a paper-based, personal essay format of the 2002 test, to a computer-based, scientifically-and-empirically based essay. Many states have opted for a sudden change, whereas New York state, which ranks 50th in pass/fail rates, (and which has a law prohibiting charging for the test,) has chosen a more pragmatic approach: the transitional test from McGraw-Hill, the TASC, will give students less trauma and pressure as they continue to prepare, and it allows the instructors to begin to incorporate all the fine print of the CCSS in a more sensible fashion, allowing a more gradual and successful shift to the eventual computer/science model. I am curious to see how other states fare as they jump to the 2014 GED test model from Pearson.