American Ingenuity at its Best: The Common Core Standards
Throughout most of the 20th century, the United States has been a global leader in educational achievement. Now, according to a PISA study, Finland is consistently the leader, followed closely by Korea and Canada. In a variety of categories, the USA comes in at #15 (reading), #21 (science), and #25 (math). Yearly statistics illustrate a continual downward turn.
In order to turn around this apparent decline in rank, thousands of citizens in the United States have been collaborating. What they have come up with is an inspiring example of American Ingenuity.
The Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSSI) is a historic effort designed to advance nationwide education reform. In the summer of 2009, 48 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, all voluntarily agreed to help draft this document. Working through The National Governor’s Association (NGA) and The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), these entities forged the shared Common Core Standards in English language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics, which were released June 2, 1010.
What is most impressive about the Common Core State Standards Initiative is the depth of collaborative spirit, process and expertise that have gone into its development. It is not only the states, the NGA and the CCSSO who were involved. Work groups made up of representatives from universities and community colleges, as well as K-12 teachers and administrators, researchers, policy makers, community and parent organizations, foundations and NPOs, business men and women and civil rights groups all contributed. Educational organizations (NCTM, AFT, CBMS, NCSM, ASSM, AMTE, to name a few) were consulted at opportune times. Thousands of comments were made upon individual drafts. International benchmarks were analyzed, and common core standards of other nations were evaluated, in order to learn from the successful steps of those countries that are now surpassing us.
The result: A precise and comprehensive agreement from experts in many fields as to what is necessary in order to competitively prepare students for both college and the global workforce. These standards provide specific expectations of achievement for each grade, allowing students, parents, teachers and administrators a clear blueprint to follow on a national level. It is an incredible step forward for education in the United States (corestandards.org/about-the-standards).
So far, 24 states have adopted the CCSSI, with 26 to go (corestandards.org/in-the-states).
There are many misconceptions about the CCSSI. It is not a system for nationalizing education. Indeed, this reform is driven by the individual states working together, and not by the federal government. The individual states have already collaborated and agreed upon what the standards are. Now, it is upon each state that adopts the standards to execute complete control over how the standards are executed.
Again, this reform is state driven. Adoption of the Common Core will look different in each state, depending on whether the standards are adopted through the state board, the state department, or the legislature. Also, the timeline for the adoption process is under the jurisdiction of each state. The standards respect unique state context, and the authority of each state to govern its public education system.
One crucial commonality remains: if adopted, the standards must be preserved word for word, true to the CCSSI that the states drafted together and presented in June of 2010. Of course, these standards will continually be updated as time goes on and research is done. Also, there is a 15% flexibility of the Common Core that each state is allowed to add their unique spin to.
Some people have expressed concern that if their state ranks towards the top in achievement, adopting the common core and working with other states will bring them down. On the contrary, this reform results in strengthening what works in individual states, and fixing what doesn’t work, through a shared network.
Vermont Governor Jim Douglas, Chairman of the National Governor’s Association states: “In Vermont, we are proud that our students are consistently rated among the most proficient in the nation. Working with our neighbors in Rhode Island and New Hampshire and Maine, we realize the benefits of working across state lines to align standards and expectations... The Common Core Initiative builds upon what we are already doing in Vermont, and provides an even greater opportunity for states to share experiences, lessons and best practices, while maintaining high standards of excellence in our schools. By making clear expectations to students, parents and policy makers, we will challenge all Americans to continuously meet and improve the quality of education across our great nation”.
These are inspiring words of hope, at a time when our educational system is in crisis. While some teabaggers may see the standards as a sign of federal intrusion, I find this to be an inaccurate judgment, steeped in a faulty vision of independence that we quite simply do not have time for. We are the only first world country that does not have common core standards; our lack of them is a big part of the crisis we now face.
The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a brilliant tribute to American resiliency and ingenuity, in that it provides a certified, researched and evidence based blueprint for success, with the added benefit and safeguard of mutual statewide support and autonomy. Currently, they are our only valid and timely solution to the education crisis.
United we stand, divided we fall. For the sake of our children, our future leaders, it is urgent that all states work together as a nation, and adopt the Common Core Standards. Please contact your representatives in the House and Senate, and let them know you support the Common Core State Standards Initiative.
