Kara Sears
The Common Core is a set of academic standards in mathematics and English language arts/literacy (ELA) adopted by many public schools in the United States. It is not a federal law, but rather a state and local initiative, with each state deciding whether to adopt these standards. The standards were developed by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers, with the goal of ensuring that students across the U.S. receive a consistent, high-quality education. While the federal government has encouraged states to adopt the Common Core, it was not involved in its creation, and the decision to adopt the standards is made by each state's Board of Education.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To standardize what is taught to students across the United States |
| Origin | Developed by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers |
| Subjects | Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA) |
| Federal Involvement | The federal government was not involved in its creation, but encouraged states to adopt it |
| State Adoption | 41 states and the District of Columbia have adopted the standards |
| Criticism | Critics claim it amounts to a national curriculum and leads to teachers being told how to teach |
| Support | 76% of teacher members of the National Education Association support the standards |
| Incentives | States were incentivized to adopt the standards through federal Race to the Top grants |
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What You'll Learn
Common Core is a state and local initiative
The Common Core is a set of academic standards in mathematics and English language arts/literacy (ELA). The National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers developed it. The standards were first created in 2009 and released in June 2010, with a majority of states adopting them in the following months. The goal of the Common Core is to ensure students across the U.S. receive a consistent, high-quality education.
It is important to note that the development of the Common Core State Standards occurred independently of any federal involvement. No federal officials served on the working teams or feedback groups, and no federal funds were used in the creation process. The Common Core is not a federal mandate, and each state decides whether to adopt these standards. The State Board of Education will make this decision, and if they choose to adopt the standards, local school districts can make plans to implement them.
While the federal government has encouraged states to adopt the Common Core, it is not a requirement. In 2010, the Obama administration made the adoption of a common set of K-12 standards a factor in the application for Race to the Top funds, which some interpreted as an endorsement of the Common Core. However, this only accounted for less than 10% of a state's application, and states could satisfy the requirement without specifically adopting the Common Core. Additionally, nearly half of the states have adopted and implemented the Common Core despite never receiving Race to the Top funds.
The Common Core has seen both advocacy and criticism. Supporters argue that it standardizes education and ensures students receive a consistent education that prepares them for college and careers. Critics claim that it amounts to a national curriculum and that it leads to teachers being told how to teach. Some have also argued that it violates states' rights and that the federal government should not be involved in education. However, objective analyses have rejected claims that the Common Core is a federal tool to instill religious or political ideology.
In conclusion, the Common Core is a state and local initiative. While the federal government has encouraged its adoption, the decision to implement it ultimately rests with the states and local leaders. The Common Core aims to provide a consistent set of academic standards to improve student achievement and ensure students are prepared for their future endeavors.
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Federal involvement in Common Core
The Common Core is a set of academic standards in mathematics and English language arts/literacy (ELA). The National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers developed it in 2009. Its goal is to ensure students across the U.S. receive a consistent, high-quality education. The Common Core standardizes education from kindergarten to high school graduation, with a heavy focus on mathematics and literacy.
Although the federal government wasn't involved in its creation, it has encouraged states to adopt the project. The federal government's involvement in the Common Core has been a controversial topic. While the majority of states have adopted the Common Core standards, a minority of states, including Alaska, Nebraska, Oklahoma (repealed in 2014), Texas, and Virginia, have not.
The debate surrounding federal involvement in the Common Core centres around the role of the federal government in education. Education is primarily a state issue in the United States, and each state decides whether to adopt the Common Core standards. However, the federal government has provided incentives for states to adopt the Common Core, such as the Race to the Top grants, which some have interpreted as an endorsement of the Common Core.
Critics of federal involvement in the Common Core argue that it is an example of federal overreach and a violation of laws that prohibit the federal government from mandating what is taught in classrooms. They believe that education decisions should be made at the state and local levels, and that the Common Core amounts to a national curriculum for schools and leads to teachers being told how to teach.
Supporters of federal involvement, on the other hand, argue that the Common Core is necessary to ensure high and consistent education standards across the country. They believe that the federal government has a role to play in ensuring success for students and that the Common Core prepares students for college and careers.
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Common Core's impact on classroom teaching
Common Core is a set of academic standards adopted by many public schools across the United States. It is not a federal law, but a majority of states have voluntarily adopted it. The standards were first created in 2009 by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers. The goal of Common Core is to ensure that students across the U.S. receive a consistent, high-quality education and are ready for higher education and careers when they graduate. The keystone of the program is a heavy focus on mathematics and literacy, or English Language Arts (ELA).
The impact of Common Core on classroom teaching has been varied. Firstly, it has altered the requirements that students must meet before moving to the next grade level. This means that teachers need to ensure that every student is prepared for the curriculum in the following year, which may involve changing their teaching techniques. Common Core allows teachers the freedom to create lesson plans and adjust their teaching style to meet the needs of their students and ensure they understand the material. However, some critics argue that this has led to a loss of flexibility and discretion for teachers, who are now expected to meet rigorous standards and may struggle to tailor their instruction to individual students.
The implementation of Common Core has also impacted the professional development of teachers. To effectively implement the standards, teachers need to be equipped with the right tools and understanding of student requirements at different grade levels. As a result, professional programs and college education for teachers have changed to provide a better alignment with state standards and Common Core requirements. This means that both instructors and students learning new teaching techniques must meet stringent criteria.
Overall, Common Core has had a significant impact on classroom teaching by standardizing the curriculum and setting expectations for student achievement. While it aims to provide a consistent framework for education across the nation, its effectiveness may depend on how well it can be adapted to the diverse needs of individual students and classrooms.
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Standardization of education
The standardization of education through Common Core has its advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, it provides a consistent framework for what students should know and be able to do at each grade level, ensuring that students across the country are receiving a similar education. This can be especially beneficial for students who move between states, as it creates a sense of continuity in their education. Additionally, standardized education can help ensure that all students have the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in higher education and their future careers.
However, critics of Common Core argue that it takes away control from states and local educators, imposing a one-size-fits-all approach that may not meet the unique needs of all students. Some educators have objected to specific aspects of the standards, such as the focus on nonfiction reading and the expectation that early-grade students tackle skills that may not be developmentally appropriate. There are also concerns that the standardization of education could lead to a loss of cultural diversity and local control over curriculum decisions.
Despite the criticism, a majority of states have voluntarily adopted the Common Core standards. As of 2023, 41 states and the District of Columbia have implemented these standards, while a minority of states, including Alaska, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia, have not. The decision to adopt Common Core standards ultimately lies with each state, and states have the flexibility to customize the standards to meet their specific needs.
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Criticisms of Common Core
The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) have faced a lot of criticism since their introduction. One of the main issues is the role the CCSS plays in the larger dynamics of current school reform and education politics. The standards were created as an instrument of contested policy and have become part of a larger political project to remake public education. This has resulted in a firestorm of controversy, with critics arguing that the initiative is damaging US education.
Another criticism is that the CCSS homogenizes learning by adopting a uniform set of standards, creating a “one-size-fits-all" approach that fails to account for the different ways students learn and the varying needs of students. This approach has been described as "heavily elitist", with its architect, David Coleman, accused of imposing his personal prejudices and preferences on the education of millions of students. For example, Coleman's introduction of “close reading” to the English/Language Arts Standards places a primacy on sticking to the text of a book and not giving credence to an author’s background, the historical period in which it was written, or the personal ideas and feelings of students.
The CCSS has also been criticized for its negative impact on student achievement, particularly in non-targeted subjects. Research has found that the CCSS reduced teacher-reported instruction time, instructional resources, and some dimensions of the quality of teacher-student interactions for subjects outside of math and English Language Arts (ELA). This is partly due to the high-stakes testing regimen, which encourages schools to focus primarily on tested subjects and prepares students for tests rather than providing a well-rounded education.
In addition, the CCSS has been criticized for its implementation process, with teachers expressing confusion and frustration over the open-ended wording of the standards and a lack of clear guidance on how to teach the material. This has resulted in a disconnect between the standards and the actual classroom instruction, with teachers synthesizing their own material and struggling to communicate the benefits of the CCSS to parents and other stakeholders.
Finally, critics have questioned the legality of the CCSS, its roots in the aggressive spending of wealthy donors, its often-underestimated costs, and the potential damage it could wreak on American higher education.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Common Core is not a federal law. It is a set of academic standards in mathematics and English language arts/literacy (ELA) that was created by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers. The federal government was not involved in its creation, but it has encouraged states to adopt the program.
Common Core was created to ensure that students across the United States receive a consistent, high-quality education. It is meant to standardize what is taught to students and prepare them for higher education and careers.
As of 2017, 45 states and the District of Columbia have adopted and are moving forward with the Common Core. However, a few states, including Alaska, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia, have not adopted these standards.
