This argument of standardized testing, has the side of the nation trying to keep up with the standards of other country, because we are falling a bit behind in academics, compared to other countries. There is where a line where students aren’t getting the all-round experience and knowledge that they need to succeed. Both parties need to find a line that can supersede education standards without taking away from the
The challenge for schools across the state and nation is how to instruct students to reach the skill levels demanded in the Common Core State Standards. The Common Core is a set of high-quality academic standards in mathematics and English language arts/literacy (CCSI). The design of the standards is to emphasize the rigorous content and practices required for in-depth of knowledge, higher order thinking, and application at each grade level. Even with the existing controversy, the standards in Common Core include what students should know in English and math for success in college and career.
All states have a course standard to follow to set goals for teaching and learning (West, 2018). Teachers use these standards as a guide within their classroom to provide the best learning for their students. Today there is a huge debate between Common Core Standards and the Alabama College and Career Readiness Standards. These two standards are highly debated and investigated amongst teachers, government officials, and parents to understand which standards will enhance student’s academic knowledge. Some state political boards do not agree with the new adoption if the Common Core Standards. After researching both standards and gaining my own opinion, I think to adopt the new Common Core Standards is a positive thing for our school systems. Even though it has some negative like difficult transition for students, standards are vague, and unequal access to technology in the classroom and at home (Meador, 2017). Even with all the cons associated with the Common Core Standards, I think the new Common
The whole point of the education system is to teach students important things that will help and benefit them later in life. Focusing and putting all our time and energy into memorizing a curriculum just to pass a test that is required isn’t how we should be spending our schools days. Personally when I know I have a huge test to study for without a doubt I can say it goes in one ear and out the other. I’m not completely processing and reading between the lines everything that I’m learning because I know that in the end it just is about passing a multiple choice test. Standardized tests have proven to lack the critical thinking that students should be learning everyday. "Children are getting the message at a very young age that if you pick the right choice between several options you can be successful. That's not the way to learn, especially creatively. That's not experimenting or exploring or creating.” (Galegroup). Due to a test kids are lacking simply skills that are a necessity in life. Learning is not a one-size-fits-all principle. Kids and our schools shouldn't have their whole futures riding on how well children can fill in little circles, to be scored by machines. Others claim that Standardized testing is a good way to measure students learning. They want to make sure that high school graduates are have acquired the knowledge and skills they need for further education and adult life. “Over
The Common Core State Standards is a controversial subject among educators, parents and general public. What most people do not realize is state standards have been around since the 1900’S, and every state has had their own standards in the early 2000’s. Each state standard has levels or benchmarks, which state what the student should be proficient in per grade level. Most of these standards are in place for third grade through high school. Even though each state had their own standards, there were concerns about the equalizations of standards among all the students in the United States. In 2007 this concern was raised at an annual meeting of the Council of Chief State School Office. The concern of equalization of standards was one of the key reasons the Council of Chief State School Office and the National Governors Association started working together to develop the Common Core State Standard.
Education reform is legislation to improve the quality of education in the United States. Once, grades were the most important achievement for students. However, politicians and the public were concerned that our standardized test scores were not as good as those of other countries. Therefore, state and national governments started making laws to make school more challenging and to test kids more. One of those laws was “No Child Left Behind”. Recently, the Common Core State Standards were developed and kids were going to be tested more than ever. However, all of this education reform has been a failure because our testing scores have not improved, the testing makes children suffer, and it doesn’t improve how teachers teach.
It was discovered that in education there were certain areas that were universal and common among learning. The two main subjects of concern were English language arts and mathematics. Common core is the new curriculum implemented now in school systems to develop learning. Common Core Standards are a clear set of shared goals and expectations for the knowledge and skills students need in English language arts and mathematics at each grade level so they can be prepared to succeed in college, career, and life. Although, Common Core seems to be here to stay this article addresses concerns in reference to content, instruction, and assessment. The questions raised were: 1). Is the content of Common Core State standards appropriate for young children?
Both America’s political left and right vigorously tout their solution is the only one and education is a hotbed because it is an easy target. Evidence: Activists and politicos try and harness the debate from any angle that would put their point of view ahead of their rival. Common Core in the mainstream right media is portrayed as an evil creation by the left. Generally it has nothing to do with the standards themselves, but is likely to be any additional hot point that can be born under the name Common Core (Simon). Explanation: This important because the backers of CCSS believe if that the general public could understand exactly what the standards are, there might be more support for them. Only seventeen percent of Americans who supported Common Core and the remainder was either confused or thought it was an umbrella for many topics other than education (Simon) This all connects back to my argument that the debate has spun out of control fueled by both sides, with the public stuck in the middle trying to grasp some understanding of CCSS.
Nevertheless, schools are facing hard times and taking the loss right where it hurts, the pocketbook. Many states signed up for the new curriculum within only two months, which was not nearly long enough to make sure that the new learning standard was fit for them. By signing up, these states agreed to buy tests and upgrade their technology to administer the tests. All of this added up to thirty dollars per student, more than what half the states can afford. “Common Core Causes Collateral Damage” reveals, “Just last month, Maryland announced it would need $100 million to get schools up to speed to administer the tests”(McShane, 2). If schools are having to spend all their money on tests and technology, that will mean cutbacks in other places. This could affect their ability to provide for textbooks, school programs, equipment, and other objects needed for daily school life.
In 2009, governors and state commissioners alike came together to formulate the development and implementation of the Common Core State Standards. Through membership organizations such as the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) (http://www.corestandards.org/about-the-standards/frequently-asked-questions/), they were able to create a system that represented a clear-cut caliber of expectations meant for students in kindergarten to grade 12. Over the past several years, new amendments have been added to keep up with the standard that 48 states have adopted into their school systems, although the adoption of the policy was voluntary (http://www.corestandards.org/about-the-standards/frequently-asked-questions/). Despite majority of the states in the U.S. having decided on the policy already, there has been conflict amongst the parents of the children who are subject to the rigorous and exhausting amount of tests they must take to keep up with what is fixed into their school systems. The argument against test-taking is a controversy in itself as many believe
The national Common Core standards assist in education by the use of a system of academic expectations students across the country must satisfy in order to move to the next grade level or graduate from high school. Consistency can occur because all students’ basic skills in English and math standards are evident. Why, therefore, are there concerns about the implementation and use of Common Core standards? To discern this question, assessment of concerns Christians and parents have related to the issue of the implementation and use of the standards are discussed first. Then an analysis
Common Core Mathematic Standards have been under evaluation because of a debate between college professors, some who feel the standards are not substantial enough to prepare students for the college degree. It is a teacher’s responsibility to prepare their students for the next level. Even many supporters believe that the Common Core State Standards have many flaws and should be evaluated. With that being stated, the board that constructed the standards made mention that the cause for these flaws is because they focused so much on the K-8 standards that they ran out of time. Because of this short time, they ended up having to rush to work sure the K-8 plus or High School Standards were completed, meaning they had less time to truly think them through. Despite all of the criticism that the Standards have taken, forty-two states and the District of Columbia have adopted them, and will be placing them in order soon.
According to Tim Walker, “Only 14% of parents say standardized testing is important in measuring school effectiveness” (Walker). A standardized test is a test that is given in a consistent or “standard” manner. Standardized tests are designed to have consistent questions, administration procedures, and scoring procedures. When a standardized test is administered, it is done so according to certain rules and specifications so that testing conditions are the same for all test takers. They often provide some type of “standard score” which can help interpret how far a child score ranges from the average student (Johnson). The tests have multiple categories but in the main courses students need to take are Reading/Writing, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science. These tests are scored in a predictable way which
One of the biggest myths about the Common Core State Standards is that states will no longer have control of education in their respective states.
There are public schools all over the world and those in public schools are not getting the proper education that they need. It seems public schools only provide the public with the bare minimum. This bare minimum can become very discouraging to parents, students and the entire public community in which the school is. Most Supreme Court rulings agree that school districts across the nation, and across the world, really only need to provide the bare minimum legally. This present an issue, if the professionals are only supposed to give the bare minimum then they themselves will be given the bare minimum. The reality is that most school professionals give way more than the bare minimum because even though they are supposed to just meet the requirements of