It’s not easy to make sense of the debate over the Common Core State Standards in math and English language arts.
kAmv@G] $4@EE (2=<6C[ 2 A@E6?E:2= AC6D:56?E:2= 2DA:C2?E[ H2?ED E@ 5@ 2H2J H:E9 E96 DE2?52C5D 3FE 92D 24<?@H=65865 E92E D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED 2C6?’E @3=:82E65 E@ 5:E49 E96> F?56C DE2E6 =2H] $E:==[ D@>6 #6AF3=:42? =2H>2<6CD 2C6 5C27E:?8 =68:D=2E:@? E92E H@F=5 4C62E6 5:776C6?E DE2?52C5D[ @C 8:G6 D49@@=D E96 @AE:@? E@ 25>:?:DE6C DE2E6 E6DED E92E 2C6?’E kP\\Aiqr qry q@5J r@AJ yFDE:7:65\\m=:?<65 E@ r@>>@?kP\\Aiqr qry q@5J r@AJ yFDE:7:65\\m r@C6 DE2?52C5D]k^Am
kAm~AA@D:E:@? E@ E96 DE2?52C5D 4@>6D 7C@> 3@E9 D:56D @7 E96 A@=:E:42= 2:D=6 — D@>6 4@?D6CG2E:G6D 92G6 D2:5 E96J 5@?’E =:<6 E92E E96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E 82G6 =2C86 >@?6E2CJ :?46?E:G6D E@ DE2E6D E@ 25@AE E96>[ H9:=6 @E96CD[ :?4=F5:?8 D@>6 E62496CD[ 5:D=:<6 E96 6>A92D:D @? E6DE:?8]k^Am
kAms6G6=@A65 3J E96 }2E:@?2= v@G6C?@CD pDD@4:2E:@? 2?5 E96 r@F?4:= @7 r9:67 $E2E6 $49@@= ~77:46CD H:E9 >2;@C 7F?5:?8 7C@> %96 q:== U2>Aj |6=:?52 v2E6D u@F?52E:@?[ E96 DE2?52C5D 2C6 36?49>2C<D :? t?8=:D9 =2?8F286 2CED 2?5 >2E9 E92E E6== E62496CD W2?5 @E96CDX H92E DEF56?ED D9@F=5 36 23=6 E@ <?@H 2?5 5@ 3J E96 6?5 @7 6249 8C256]k^Am
kAmw6=A:?8 E96 8C@FAD 4C27E E96 DE2?52C5D H6C6 2? 2CC2J @7 4@==686 AC@76DD@CD[ DE2E6 65F42E:@? @77:4:2=D[ z\`a AF3=:4 D49@@= E62496CD[ E6DE:?8 @77:4:2=D 7C@> E96 r@==686 q@2C5 2?5 pr% x?4] 2D H6== 2D E96 (2D9:?8E@?\32D65 C6D62C49 2?5 25G@424J 8C@FA p49:6G6]k^Am
kAmp5G@42E6D 2C6 BF:4< E@ A@:?E @FE H92E E96J 2C6 ?@Ei %96J 2C6 ?@E 2 4FCC:4F=F>[ @C 2 C625:?8 =:DE] %96 DE2?52C5D :?7@C> 2 4FCC:4F=F>[ 3FE E62496CD 4C62E6 E96:C @H? =6DD@?D[ @C A:4< 3@@<D[ AC@;64ED @C 7:6=5 EC:AD E92E 96=A E96:C DEF56?ED >66E E96 36?49>2C<D]k^Am
kAmw6C6 2C6 2?DH6CD E@ D@>6 4@>>@? BF6DE:@?D 23@FE E96 AC@8C2>ikP\\Aiqr qry q@5J r@AJ yFDE:7:65\\mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(9J H6C6 E96 DE2?52C5D 4C62E65nk^DEC@?8mkP\\Aiqr qry q@5J r@AJ yFDE:7:65\\m %96 DE2?52C5D 42? 36 EC2465 E@ E96 `hgb C6A@CE “p }2E:@? 2E #:D<[” H9:49 7@F?5 &]$] DEF56?ED’ D<:== =6G6=D H6C6 ?@E <66A:?8 A246 H:E9 E96 56>2?5D @7 6>A=@J6CD @C E96:C :?E6C?2E:@?2= A66CD] %92E C6A@CE’D 7:?5:?8D DAFCC65 2 H2G6 @7 65F42E:@? C67@C>D[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 4FCC6?E 677@CE E@ 6?DFC6 E96C6 2C6 DA64:7:4 DE2?52C5D @C 36?49>2C<D 2== DEF56?ED :? E96 &]$] D9@F=5 >66E 367@C6 8C25F2E:?8 7C@> 9:89 D49@@=] %96 :?E6?E H2D E@ :?4C62D6 C:8@C[ 4C:E:42= E9:?<:?8 2?5 AC6A2C6 DEF56?ED 36EE6C 7@C 4@==686 @C 42C66CD]kP\\Aiqr qry q@5J r@AJ yFDE:7:65\\mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8ms:5 E96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E 92G6 2 C@=6nk^DEC@?8m kP\\Aiqr qry q@5J r@AJ yFDE:7:65\\m%96 &]$] s6A2CE>6?E @7 t5F42E:@? 5:5 ?@E 92G6 2 92?5 :? HC:E:?8 E96 DE2?52C5D[ 3FE :E 5:5 @776C DE2E6D >:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD :? #246 E@ E96 %@A 7F?5:?8 E@ 25@AE E96>] %92E 92D D6CG65 2D E96 32D:D 7@C >2?J 4@?D6CG2E:G6D’ 4@?46C?D @G6C 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E :?G@=G6>6?E]kP\\Aiqr qry q@5J r@AJ yFDE:7:65\\mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(9J 2C6 E96J @?=J 7@C >2E9 2?5 t?8=:D9 =2?8F286 2CEDnk^DEC@?8m kP\\Aiqr qry q@5J r@AJ yFDE:7:65\\m%96 DE2?52C5D’ 4C62E@CD D2J t?8=:D9 =2?8F286 2CED — H9:49 4@G6C C625:?8 2?5 HC:E:?8 — 2?5 >2E9 2C6 E96 2C62D FA@? H9:49 DEF56?ED 3F:=5 D<:==D E92E 2C6 FD65 7@C 2== @E96C DF3;64ED] u@C 8C256D e\`a[ E96C6 2C6 DA64:7:4 r@>>@? r@C6 =:E6C24J DE2?52C5D :? 9:DE@CJ^D@4:2= DEF5:6D[ D4:6?46 2?5 E649?:42= DF3;64ED] %96D6 =:E6C24J DE2?52C5D 2C6 D6A2C2E6 7C@> DE2E6\32D65 DF3;64E\>2EE6C DE2?52C5D]kP\\Aiqr qry q@5J r@AJ yFDE:7:65\\mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(9@ HC@E6 E96 DE2?52C5D 7@C E96 @E96C DF3;64EDnk^DEC@?8m kP\\Aiqr qry q@5J r@AJ yFDE:7:65\\m%96C6 2C6 DE2?52C5D 2G2:=23=6 7@C @E96C DF3;64ED 56G6=@A65 3J ?2E:@?2= 8C@FAD[ =:<6 E96 }6IE v6?6C2E:@? $4:6?46 $E2?52C5D[ @C E96 !2CE?6CD9:A 7@C a`DE r6?EFCJ $<:==D DE2?52C5D[ 7@C 6I2>A=6] (:D4@?D:? 2?5 >2?J @E96C DE2E6D 92G6 <6AE E96:C @H? DE2?52C5D :? @E96C DF3;64ED]kP\\Aiqr qry q@5J r@AJ yFDE:7:65\\mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8ms@ D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED 92G6 E@ FD6 E96 r@>>@? r@C6 DE2?52C5Dnk^DEC@?8m kP\\Aiqr qry q@5J r@AJ yFDE:7:65\\m}@E :? (:D4@?D:?] q642FD6 D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED 92G6 =@42= 4@?EC@= AC@E64E65 3J =2H[ :?5:G:5F2= D49@@= 3@2C5D >FDE 25@AE E96:C @H? DE2?52C5D[ H9:49 >62?D D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED H6C6 ?@E C6BF:C65 E@ 25@AE r@>>@? r@C6 H96? E96 DE2E6 s6A2CE>6?E @7 !F3=:4 x?DECF4E:@? 5:5 :? a_`_] kP\\Aiqr qry q@5J r@AJ yFDE:7:65\\mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(92E 92AA6?D :7 E96J 5@?’Enk^DEC@?8mkP\\Aiqr qry q@5J r@AJ yFDE:7:65\\m %96kP\\Aiqr qry q@5J r@AJ yFDE:7:65\\m kP\\Aiqr qry q@5J r@AJ yFDE:7:65\\mAC:>2CJ 4@?46C? 7@C D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED :7 E96J 5@?’E FD6 E96 DE2E6’D 25@AE65 DE2?52C5D :D 9@H E96:C DEF56?ED H:== 72C6 @? DE2?52C5:K65 E6DED] %6DED 7C@> E96 $>2CE6C q2=2?465 pDD6DD>6?E r@?D@CE:2 2?5 E96 !2CE?6CD9:A 7@C pDD6DD>6?E @7 #625:?6DD 7@C r@==686 2?5 r2C66CD 2C6 36:?8 8:G6? E@ DEF56?ED :? >@DE DE2E6D E9:D D49@@= J62C] %96 E6DED 2C6 2=:8?65 E@ r@>>@? r@C6 DE2?52C5D 2?5 E6DE DEF56?ED’ <?@H=6586 @7 E9@D6 DF3;64ED] $EF56?ED >:89E ?@E 36 AC6A2C65 E@ E2<6 r@>>@? r@C6\=:?<65 E6DED :7 2 D49@@= 5:DEC:4E :D ?@E FD:?8 =6DD@?D 32D65 @? r@>>@? r@C6 DE2?52C5D] x? DF49 2 42D6[ D49@@=D 4@F=5 C646:G6 A@@C6C C2E:?8D :? 2 DE2E6’D 244@F?E23:=:EJ DJDE6> @C E62496CD kP\\Aiqr qry q@5J r@AJ yFDE:7:65\\m4@F=5 C646:G6 A@@C C2E:?8DkP\\Aiqr qry q@5J r@AJ yFDE:7:65\\m @? ?6H 6G2=F2E:@?D]kP\\Aiqr qry q@5J r@AJ yFDE:7:65\\mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(92E E6DED 2C6 FD65 7@C E96 @E96C DF3;64EDnk^DEC@?8mkP\\Aiqr qry q@5J r@AJ yFDE:7:65\\m %92E G2C:6D 3J DE2E6[ 3FE :? (:D4@?D:?[ DEF56?ED H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ E2<6 E96 (:D4@?D:? r@?46AED 2?5 z?@H=6586 tI2>D :? D4:6?46 2?5 D@4:2= DEF5:6D] kP\\Aiqr qry q@5J r@AJ yFDE:7:65\\mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(9J 2C6 E96 r@>>@? r@C6 DE2?52C5D 4@?EC@G6CD:2=nk^DEC@?8m kP\\Aiqr qry q@5J r@AJ yFDE:7:65\\m|2?J C62D@?D — AC:>2C:=J 3642FD6 4@?D6CG2E:G6D :? E96 =2DE EH@ J62CD 92G6 C2:D65 4@?46C?D @G6C H92E E96J A6C46:G6 2D AC6DDFC6 7C@> E96 &]$] s6A2CE>6?E @7 t5F42E:@? 3J @776C:?8 >@?6E2CJ :?46?E:G6D E@ DE2E6D E92E 25@AE E96>] %92E 7F?5:?8 :D E96 32D:D 7@C 2 A6C46AE:@? E92E E96 DE2?52C5D 2C6 7656C2= >2?52E6D @C D6CG6 2 ?2E:@?2=:K65 4FCC:4F=F>] ~E96CD 92G6 C2:D65 4@?46C?D 23@FE E96 2>@F?E @7 E6DE:?8 DEF56?ED 2C6 DF3;64E65 E@ 3642FD6 @7 r@>>@? r@C6[ @C 23@FE E96 6>A92D:D E96 DE2?52C5D 92G6 @? ?@?7:4E:@? E6IED]kP\\Aiqr qry q@5J r@AJ yFDE:7:65\\mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(92E 92D v@G] (2=<6C D2:5 23@FE E96>nk^DEC@?8mkP\\Aiqr qry q@5J r@AJ yFDE:7:65\\m %96 8@G6C?@C D2:5 :? yF?6 a_`c E92E 96 H2?E65 E96 {68:D=2EFC6 E@ C6A62= r@>>@? r@C6] w6 H6?E 7FCE96C 2E E96 #6AF3=:42? v@G6C?@CD pDD@4:2E:@? 2??F2= >66E:?8 :? }@G6>36C 3J D2J:?8 E96 DE2E6 H2D E2<:?8 DE6AD E@ 86E C:5 @7 E96 DE2?52C5D 2?5 C6A=246 E96> H:E9 DE2?52C5D 4C62E65 D@=6=J 7@C (:D4@?D:? DEF56?ED] $:?46 E96?[ 9@H6G6C[ 96 92D 24<?@H=65865 E92E D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED 42? =682==J 25@AE E96:C @H? DE2?52C5D] w6 D2:5 96 5@6D?’E H2?E 5:DEC:4ED E@ 36 7@C465 E@ <66A E96> :7 E96J 5@?’EH2?E E@]kP\\Aiqr qry q@5J r@AJ yFDE:7:65\\mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(92E :D E96 {68:D=2EFC6 5@:?8 H:E9 E96>nk^DEC@?8mkP\\Aiqr qry q@5J r@AJ yFDE:7:65\\m xE’D 92C5 E@ D2J 2E E9:D A@:?E] #6AF3=:42?D 4@?EC@= 3@E9 9@FD6D @7 E96 {68:D=2EFC6[ 2?5 ?@E 2== @7 E96> 28C66 @? H92E E@ 5@] $6?] {629 'F<>:C[ #\(2FH2E@D2[ :D :?EC@5F4:?8 2 3:== E92E H@F=5 4C62E6 2 DE2?52C5D 3@2C5 E@ 4C27E ?6H DE2?52C5D] kP\\Aiqr qry q@5J r@AJ yFDE:7:65\\m$6?] !2F=kP\\Aiqr qry q@5J r@AJ yFDE:7:65\\m u2CC@H[ #\!6H2F<66[ 2=D@ :D 5C27E:?8 244@F?E23:=:EJ =68:D=2E:@? E92E H@F=5 8:G6 D49@@=D E6DE:?8 @AE:@?D :?DE625 @7 C6BF:C:?8 ;FDE @?6 E6DE E:65 E@ E96 r@>>@? r@C6 DE2?52C5D]kP\\Aiqr qry q@5J r@AJ yFDE:7:65\\mk^Am
Want to see more like this?
Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox.