- Why do we need a new curriculum?
- How does it affect our children?
- What is the governments role in this?
I didn't have answers to the questions so I decided I needed to do my homework, not only as a PTA president, but also as a mother and community member.
Today, I'm going to answers those questions and leave links where I found the answers. I need to qualify this and say when I wanted to learn about the new math standards, I went to the education websites and talked to math teachers. When I wanted to learn about the new language arts, I talked to English teachers.
Here are links with more questions and answers:
Common Core Standards Talking Points
Core Facts
1. Why do we need a new curriculum?
Short answer: First off, this is a standard, not a curriculum. The local educators can decide how the standards are met.
Second, States tweek and improve their curriculum every five years. Many of the states got together and wondered if they couldn't do a national curriculum together, instead of individual states doing random updates.
Long answer: Americans are behind in math, science and reading scores internationally. Personally, I don't care because I've seen the countries with high math scores and all they do is go to school all day. All work and no play... BUT our children are competing on international levels. For years, parents and educators have begged for a stronger math standard. And for years, researchers have studied the education systems in the counties with high math scores.
And now, we can implement this math curriculum in at least 45 states. All on same page. All teaching the same math. Interestingly, from what I've read and heard from math teachers, this math is more balanced than any they've taught.
Many schools have tested out the local curriculum based on the standard already. The English department of our local junior high worked on core standards last year to be ready for the implementation this year. For instance, on 911, they brought more stories and letters from that day to help teach their lesson. The teachers were amazed at the student involvement, not only on that day, but throughout the year.
Statics show that families move every three to five years. Even families with homes. This new curriculum would help, say, if a child moves from say, Florida to Utah, they will have learned the same math and will be able to jump in on the same level of their old school.
Utah's New Mathematics Core
2. How does it affect our children?
Short answer: Like every curriculum change, we hope it benefits our children.
Longer answer: English will have more emphasis in research, non-fiction, writing and grammar, digital reading/writing/presentation, and informational text. This is the digital and informational age. Texting is a common way to communicate. And usually with improper spelling and punctuation. Unfortunately, many papers are being turned in that only a few years ago would garner a big, fat "F". Our children need to be reminded of grammaer and writing rules. I admit, some rules have changed, but 99% have not.
Students also need to understand the world through information, not just stories. English won't change a lot but the assignments will.
There wasn't a huge difference between our Utah standards and what the national standard the panel is using as a base, which says a lot about our curriculum here. But the new standards looks like it will take our students to the next level of education.
Utah's New English Language Arts Core
3. What is the governments role in this?
Short answer: They aren't. Except for applying for a grant from Race to the Top.
Long answer: The National Governor's Association and The Council of Chief State School Officers put together a panel of the heads of top research organizations such as the National Math Panel, Acieve Program, Core 40 Program, ACT people, and experts on standards in the USA. Did I mention this panel did it all for FREE??
All the states were given the opportunity to opt in and commit to this panel developing the common core. This didn't mean any state agreed with implementing the common core, just that they wanted the panel to develop something they could all look at and see if a national standard was what they wanted to do.
Over a two year process, the panel sent out their ideas/standards for the states to look over and comment on. The panel then took the comments and worked on them and sent them back out.
During this time and even after the curriculum was ready, the states could opt out.
There is no federal government backing or interference. The only federal option I found was the Race to the Top grant and Utah did not receive that grant. Utah didn't get the Race to the Top money and won't apply for it again. Because the Common Core Standards is a standard, not a curriculum, Utah can work on it's own solutions to Utah's educational needs. There is no pressure from the federal government.
So far, 45 state, the District of Columbia and four territories (Guam, America Samoa Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands and Northern Mariana Islands ) have adopted the new national standards.
The fact is clear: common core is here. It has already been implemented in most of Utah. Our district starts it this year. We can fight it, or make it better, but it's here to stay for at least seven years.
The problem is facts and stats can be misconstrued. Please, please, please research this on your own! There are a lot of voices out there, both for and against Utah's Common Core. Understanding what is being talked about will help you better help your student.
Here are a few more links for you to do your own research:
Common Core Facts TIMELINE of Utah's adoption of the new standards (started in 2007)
Common Core Standards
Common Core Assessment
Pros and Cons of Common Core Standards
