According to the Manhattan Institute, a research group, test scores in reading and maths have remained much as they were before the two men took over, well below the national and big-city averages.
"It may not be appropriate to use calculators for the whole of the mathstest paper, but it is a retrograde step to ban them completely as it will diminish the skills set for primary pupils and leave them floundering in secondary school".
In subjects such as English and history, the exams will test essay writing, while in maths and science there will be a greater focus on quantitative problem solving.