Yesterday, Dr. June Atkinson’s blog highlighted all the positive attributes of following the trend towards national standards. She does a good job describing the convenience of everyone learning the same material at the same grade level. Also, everyone can agree Common Core has higher expectations in reading and math than the old “North Carolina Course of Study,” which is very positive. So what’s the problem? Are you READY for a few concerns?
She did not say the Federal Government attached money to grants for adopting these standards. While the standards are not mandated, money tends to help decision-making. She did not say states are questioning if they want the Federal Government – or whoever is in control of Common Core – to have that much power. Citizens and elected officials in Nebraska, South Carolina, Indiana, Utah, and Georgia, (to name a few) have begun to ask hard questions. Virginia (one of the states that NEVER agreed to adopt Common Core) continues to stay away from the bandwagon.
North Carolina should begin a courageous conversation since these standards (tests are currently being developed) have never been field tested, not ONE elected body in our state voted on adoption, no one knows how much this initiative costs, or who will pay for implementation. Forget the fact that it undermines state and local control. What DOES Common Core mean for NC?
