The controversial Common Core tests began Tuesday in schools across New York state.

New York Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia says the state has made major changes to the Common Core English and math assessments since last year, when 1 in 5 students refused to take them. The tests have fewer questions, and students have as much time as needed to finish.

Despite the changes, many parents say they're still opting their kids out of the exams. New York last year saw the highest rate of opt-outs in the country as parents protested the volume of testing and the high-stakes consequences for teachers, students and schools. Supporters of the opt-out movement anticipate large numbers again this year, saying the changes haven't gone far enough.

In the Lakeland School District, Superintendent George Stone worries about the children, saying they are "caught in a political crossfire." Stone adds that he believes taking the challenging test might assist students in the future.

Among the district's students, 42 percent of them opted out of the first day of testing.

This is the first year that test scores will not be tied to the evaluations of teachers and principals.