The Common Core Curriculum

There has lately been a lot of talk about a new curriculum being introduced statewide. The Common Core Curriculum is an effort by business and educational leaders as well as policy makers to make the education of US students more competitive with students from around the world. These changes are a direct result of globalization and the changes this has brought about in the world economy.

The Common Core Curriculum is also an attempt to answer the concerns about the value of a high school diploma. A 2004 report noted that both colleges and employers were raising standards for high school graduates and that graduates were finding it difficult to keep up.

This new curriculum is an attempt to address these rising standards. It does that by going deeper into particular subjects while focusing on computer literacy. It also attempts to utilize real life scenarios encouraging students to think outside of the proverbial box.

Local Concerns

Though initially popular, this curriculum has increasingly come under fire from certain groups who feel it is a “national curriculum” and takes away local control.

There is also a chorus of dissatisfaction with a perceived attempt to drive out music and the arts from the classroom. However, it is also important to look at how and why this new curriculum came about.

A Curriculum for the 21st Century

A 2004 report called “Ready or Not: Creating a High School Diploma that Counts” found that unlike in generations past a High School diploma today does not adequately prepare a student for the realities of modern adult life. Furthermore, due to the demands of globalization and the changes that have come to the workplace, employees are not just competing with someone from down the street but also with people from around the world. In response to these changes, educational leaders came together to develop the “Core Curriculum.” The standards were “designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that young people need for success.” The current Common Core Curriculum focuses on English, Writing and Mathematics while the curriculum and standards for Science and Social Studies are under development.

The new Mathematics curriculum focuses on a deeper understanding of real world applications. For instance, a student may be asked to do a math problem, but it is set inside a story. Thus the student must read the story, recognize the problem and then come up with an answer. (We used to call this ”A word problem.”) This is meant to simulate a real world situation for the student.

The English and Writing curriculum focuses on reading comprehension and logic. Students are encouraged to read a piece of classic literature looking at concepts from a different perspective and then develop their own opinions. Students are also encouraged to use logic and reasoning in class writing projects.

Finally, in recognition of the importance technology plays in our student’s lives, the curriculum also focuses on using technology to gather information online and generate reports.

Instead of memorizing information for a test, students are given the tools that will help both inside and outside of the classroom. The Common Core Curriculum is attempting to give students real world applications. Because of the constraints of time, some subjects will not receive the attention that a number of parents may expect. For example, California teachers will continue to teach cursive writing while other states will no longer teach it due to a perceived lack of importance.

To ensure that progress is being made, students will have a series of assessments (tests) at the end of each school year. The information from these will be used to help make decisions about what is being taught and how to teach it.

Results are Coming In

So far, the Common Core Curriculum has been adopted by 44 states and already improvements in graduation rates and college readiness are starting to appear. For instance, Kentucky, the first state to implement Common Core in 2010, is seeing improvement in its high school graduation rates. The rate has moved from 80% in 2010 to 86% in just three years. Also Kentucky found that 54% of students were college ready in 2013 compared to 34% in 2010. Such a significant improvement provides proof that the new curriculum can help students to be more successful.

Curriculum Criticisms

Despite these positive trends, there has been pushback. One criticism of the nationwide move to this curriculum is that it is a national takeover of education and that local districts will not be able to modify it to fit local needs. In my opinion, this criticism ignores the flexibility that local teachers and administrators have within this program. Granted that national education standards are provided but the path to achieve those standards is decided at the local level.

Another major concern is with Common Core is the absence of music and the arts. Without these subjects as part of the curriculum this works to the detriment of our students. I agree. The arts are an important part of our children’s education. I am proud to say that the PVUSD is working to bring music and the arts to every classroom. Also, due to parental support Aptos area schools such as Rio Del Mar are able to provide local students with classes in the arts.

An Important Step

Our students are entering a different world. They are facing workplace competition from around the world. Therefore, as their world changes the educational process must also change. Though I share concerns about the lack of arts in the classroom, I feel the Common Core Curriculum is an important step in the right direction. It gives students the tools to not only succeed in the new world but to prosper in it.

In college I had a teacher who used to tell me to “Trust the data.” Her opinion was that if the data showed results, then you should trust that the process was working. So far the data shows it is working.

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As always I welcome your comments. Email me at: Jeffrey_Ursino@pvusd.net