How Common Core Broke U.S. Schools

Summary

The Common Core initiative, launched in 2009, aimed to standardize and raise academic standards in U.S. schools to better prepare students for college and the workforce. Supported by political leaders and educational organizations, it was initially adopted by 45 states. However, the program faced criticism for being too complex, confusing for parents, and disconnected from teachers' real-world needs. Research showed minimal improvements in student performance, and the initiative became politically polarizing. As a result, many states have since revised or abandoned Common Core in favor of alternative educational frameworks, though its influence remains in current standards.

Takeaways

• 😀 Common Core was introduced in 2009 to raise academic standards in the US, supported by national leaders like Bill Gates and President Obama.
• 😀 The initiative aimed to improve student performance, with 41 states and several territories initially adopting the standards.
• 😀 One of the primary goals of Common Core was to provide a consistent curriculum across states to help compare academic performance accurately.
• 😀 Common Core focused on improving math and language arts education from kindergarten through high school, aiming for college and career readiness.
• 😀 Teachers were asked to adopt new teaching methods under Common Core, which included emphasizing critical thinking and real-world applications of knowledge.
• 😀 Initially, Common Core received broad support, but it soon faced criticism, particularly from parents and media, due to confusion around its methods, especially in math.
• 😀 Research on the effectiveness of Common Core showed mixed results, with minimal impact on student performance across the board.
• 😀 One theory for Common Core’s failure was that it took control away from teachers, who often understand their students' needs better.
• 😀 Socioeconomic factors, such as poverty, were not adequately addressed in the Common Core standards, and studies showed that students from low-income families were at a disadvantage.
• 😀 Over time, more than 20 states have either revised or repealed Common Core standards, with some states even completely withdrawing from the initiative.
• 😀 The Common Core initiative became highly politicized, leading to a decline in support, with states avoiding its label despite similar standards being adopted.

Q & A

What was the goal of the Common Core initiative?

The goal of the Common Core initiative was to raise academic standards in the U.S. to better prepare students for success in college and the workplace by providing a clear, uniform set of educational standards across states.

Which states and territories initially signed up for Common Core?

41 states, the District of Columbia, and four territories initially signed up to participate in Common Core.

What was one of the main reasons for implementing Common Core?

One of the main reasons for implementing Common Core was the belief that U.S. students were lagging behind other countries in academic performance, particularly in reading, science, and mathematics.

What was the estimated cost of implementing Common Core?

The estimated cost of implementing Common Core was $15.8 billion.

What were some challenges teachers faced with the Common Core standards?

Teachers faced the challenge of adapting to a new curriculum that often contradicted their previous understanding and teaching methods, requiring them to shift their lesson plans and teaching practices.

What was a common reaction from parents regarding Common Core?

Parents often struggled to help their children with homework, as they were unfamiliar with the new methods of teaching under Common Core, which led to confusion and frustration.

What is one criticism of the Common Core standards?

One criticism of Common Core is that it took away control from teachers, who are better suited to understand the individual needs of their students, and imposed a one-size-fits-all approach.

What role did federal government play in promoting Common Core?

The federal government played a role in promoting Common Core through the Obama administration’s Race to the Top fund, which offered $4.35 billion in grants to states that adopted college and career-ready standards, often seen as code for Common Core.

What were the results of the federally funded research on the effectiveness of Common Core?

The results of the federally funded research on Common Core were disappointing, showing tiny negative, positive, and neutral effects on student performance, with no dramatic improvement in academic achievement.

Why did many states retreat from Common Core?

Many states retreated from Common Core due to political polarization and public criticism, particularly from parents and educators who felt the standards were not effective or suitable for all students.

What new educational standards have replaced Common Core in some states?

Some states, like Florida and New York, have replaced Common Core with new standards such as the Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (BEST) Standards and the Next Generation Learning Standards.

How did political polarization affect Common Core?

Political polarization contributed to the decline of Common Core, as opposition to the standards became tied to political ideologies. As a result, states began to drop or revise the standards, even if they were essentially the same as Common Core.

What do experts predict about the future of education in the U.S. despite the decline of Common Core?

Experts predict that education in the U.S. will continue to improve as long as there are efforts to invest in education, acknowledging that education is a vital asset for community and national growth.