First of all, I really enjoy these polls. Second, this particular poll question pertains to the implementation of a set of standards and the end-of-the-year tests that will coincide with the new standards. As of today, 46 states have decided on implementation of the Common Core Curriculum. Those states will begin delivering these new standards during the 2013-2014 school year. However, testing for these standards won't fully correspond with the standards until the 2014-2015 school year.
Prior to the Common Core Curriculum, each state had their own set of standards and a set of K-12 tests to go along with those standards. This offered a measure of student growth, teacher effectiveness, and school district accountability at the state level. Simply put, students in one state could only be compared to other students from that state. Now students, teachers, and districts from multiple states will be compared. Great, right? Well, the devil is in the details.
The details reveal that big business is gobbling these programs up and designing software and online assessments for public districts to use. These programs are going to cost the states millions of dollars. In addition to the assessments, smaller companies are popping up with "must have" digital interventions that will "...help your child do their best on these new tests." I am all for capitalism, but not at the expense of tax payers and the already fiscally suffering public education system.
In my opinion, these are NOT the necessary changes needed in our education system. This is simply the 'wolf' in a digital 'sheep's' costume. We need to prepare our children for jobs that don't exist yet. We need to move away from the agrarian calendar school's currently use and begin to offer students a curriculum geared toward 21st century skills.
Tonight we tape a show called the EDUCATION BLOB STRIKES BACK. The BLOB is an immovable obstacle represented by unions, PTAs, and school board bureaucracies.
Lindsey Burke of the Heritage Foundation and Fordham Institute’s Kathleen Porter-Magee will debate something called “common core” standards… national goals and tests for math and English.
Last month, the Oakland, Calif school board shut down the American Indian Charter Schools, accusing the founder of making a "profit." But he made the schools into the best in Oakland! And he spent less money per student than the public schools. The founder, Ben Chavis, will discuss his fight against the BLOB.
First of all, I really enjoy
First of all, I really enjoy these polls. Second, this particular poll question pertains to the implementation of a set of standards and the end-of-the-year tests that will coincide with the new standards. As of today, 46 states have decided on implementation of the Common Core Curriculum. Those states will begin delivering these new standards during the 2013-2014 school year. However, testing for these standards won't fully correspond with the standards until the 2014-2015 school year.
Prior to the Common Core Curriculum, each state had their own set of standards and a set of K-12 tests to go along with those standards. This offered a measure of student growth, teacher effectiveness, and school district accountability at the state level. Simply put, students in one state could only be compared to other students from that state. Now students, teachers, and districts from multiple states will be compared. Great, right? Well, the devil is in the details.
The details reveal that big business is gobbling these programs up and designing software and online assessments for public districts to use. These programs are going to cost the states millions of dollars. In addition to the assessments, smaller companies are popping up with "must have" digital interventions that will "...help your child do their best on these new tests." I am all for capitalism, but not at the expense of tax payers and the already fiscally suffering public education system.
In my opinion, these are NOT the necessary changes needed in our education system. This is simply the 'wolf' in a digital 'sheep's' costume. We need to prepare our children for jobs that don't exist yet. We need to move away from the agrarian calendar school's currently use and begin to offer students a curriculum geared toward 21st century skills.
From John Stossel: Tonight we
From John Stossel:
Tonight we tape a show called the EDUCATION BLOB STRIKES BACK. The BLOB is an immovable obstacle represented by unions, PTAs, and school board bureaucracies.
Lindsey Burke of the Heritage Foundation and Fordham Institute’s Kathleen Porter-Magee will debate something called “common core” standards… national goals and tests for math and English.
Last month, the Oakland, Calif school board shut down the American Indian Charter Schools, accusing the founder of making a "profit." But he made the schools into the best in Oakland! And he spent less money per student than the public schools. The founder, Ben Chavis, will discuss his fight against the BLOB.
What questions do you have for me or my guests?
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