In 2014, many school districts in the United States will adapt their curricula to adhere to a new set of academic standards. Although most states have decided to adopt these standards, these changes are not coming without controversy. The Common Core State Standards Initiative, or Common Core, is an education initiative that outlines quantifiable benchmarks in English and Mathematics that should be met by the end of each grade level. The goal of the initiative is to ensure that American high school graduates have received an education that prepares them for either higher education or direct entry into the workforce.[1] The standards for English and Mathematics were released in June 2010, and the federal government even offered the possibility of receiving competitive Race to the Top federal grants as an incentive to adopt Common Core. These standards have been adopted by 45 out of 50 states, with only Virginia, Texas, Alaska and Nebraska as non-participants and Minnesota adopting only the English Language Arts standards.[2] Common Core originated in 2009 when the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers convened a group of educators and stakeholders with experience in curriculum design, assessment and education of all levels.[3] The group represented a state-led effort that featured participation from a combined 51 states and American territories. The standards were originally divided into two separate categories, college and career readiness standards and K-12 standards. As the projected developed, these standards were eventually integrated into a single set before being released for public comment in September 2009 and again in March 2010.[4][5] The standards received nearly 10,000 comments that helped to shape the final set of standards issued in June 2010.[6] What are the standards? The initiative outlines standards in English and Mathematics that stress literacy and college or career readiness no later than the end of high school. The English Language Arts standards feature five essential components, which are: Reading Writing Speaking and listening Language and media and technology Keyboarding
Posted on: Sat, 01 Feb 2014 20:02:07 +0000
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