Tuesday, December 08, 2015

The common core: Does it work?

The common core: Does it work?
Sent to the Washington Post, Dec. 8, 2015.

Missing from the discussion of the adoption of common core standards and tests in Catholic schools is whether the common core does students any good ("Backlash over Common Core extends to US Catholic Schools," Dec. 7.)

At this time, there is no convincing evidence that the use of the common core standards or tests are related to better school performance, nor is there evidence of any positive long-term effect.  The common core is an experiment done on millions of students, without any plan to see if it works. 

There is, however, strong evidence that the  common core profits the technology industry that supplies online testing, and that soon will supply daily online modules ("competency-based education") to deliver the common core.

The Catholic church and other school systems not required to use the common core should take a harder look before accepting this costly and unproven curriculum.

Stephen Krashen
Professor Emeritus
University of Southern California

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/backlash-over-common-core-extends-to-us-catholic-schools/2015/12/07/9dff41ea-9d07-11e5-9ad2-568d814bbf3b_story.html

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