In spite of attributable Math and Reading test score gains in Washington, DC, and Tennessee, there’s a continuing battle over the Common Core State Standards. Concerns range from student data privacy, to local district control over content, to the rigor of the standards themselves. Some states have already pulled out of the initiative, while others weigh the implications of reversing course at this point. These articles offer a brief survey on the national dealings with this continued controversy.
We’ve previously weighed in on several Common Core Misconceptions, and encourage you to decide for yourself (and inform a friend). Each one teach one.
National CCSS News
What Kentucky can teach the rest of the US about Common Core (The Atlantic) – Kentucky has implemented Common Core since 2010, and has lessons to share.
States Seek to Calm Districts’ Common Core Jitters (Education Week) – School districts raise concerns over student data privacy and control over reading content in curricula. Are proposed alternatives business as usual?
Utah Parents Examine, Review Common Core Questions (Education News) – In one state, parents get involved by reviewing content before approval.
What Happens to Schools Teaching Common Core if Ohio Repeals the Standards (National Public Radio) – Given the recent backlash, one educator asks the practical question: What do we do if the standards are reversed?
Study: State Defection from Common Core Testing Consortia won’t Greatly Increase Cost (Washington Post) – Some states are considering creating regional assessment alternatives for Common Core testing.
Other News
“[College] Credit When Credit is Due” (National Public Radio) – Pilot programs seek out and grant degrees to former college drop-outs who have earned an associate degree–and don’t even know it.
Minorities are more Optimistic about the Value of College (National Journal) – This National Journal study shows minorities are still confident higher education is the best path to gainful employment.
Online Education Key to Transformation (The New York Times) – Some thoughts from Clayton Christensen on online education, higher education, disruption and transformation.
The Education Apocalypse #opened13 (Hack Education) – Some thoughts from Audrey Watters in the form of her Open Education Conference keynote…also on online education, higher education, disruption and transformation — and building an alternative mythology.