Parents have been complaining for years. What about? Despite mountains of daily homework and endless testing, their children struggle to master core subjects. Meanwhile colleges must offer basic skills classes. Why? Because too many students are not ready for courses that need higher math and English skills.
Meanwhile, tutors who have earned math and science degrees abroad decry the lack of basic skills. It’s a hinder to teaching students advanced lessons. In some cases, critical knowledge is still lacking among those who enter such fields after graduation. This results in the production of inferior products.
Enter the Common Core State Standards. This is a huge initiative launched by the nation’s governors and state education commissioners. The purpose is to establish consistent K-12 education standards. These standards will reflect the knowledge and skills that students need in the real world. The CCSS focuses on math and English language arts because these skills are foundational to all other subjects. They include literacy, vocabulary, reasoning, and problem solving. But educators are creating models for social studies, science, and the arts, too.
Parents should understand that CCSS sets expectations for what students must learn. The goal is to get them ready to enter college and prepare for careers. Common Core does not dictate how the standards are delivered. States, districts, and teachers have the responsibility for creating curriculum and determining assessment methods.
Because CCSS is such a massive effort, there is a phasing process, which means the changeover may not always be smooth. There will be teacher training and curriculum alignment, as well as assessment creation and scheduling. Test scores may drop for awhile. But students will emerge with deeper knowledge. They will have the ability to use critical thinking and reasoning skills.
For more information on the Common Core State Standards, visit the William S. Hart District website at www.hart.k12.ca.us/index.php/students/common-core. More resources for parents are at www.cde.ca.gov/re/cc/ccssresourcesparents.asp.
Diane Trautman can be reached at StudyPros In-Home Tutoring, 661-296-9206, or www.studypros.com.