The Latest News
Correcting the Record: New York’s Decision to ‘Overhaul’ Common Core Could Pave the Way for Other States
Education officials in New York are “moving ahead with a plan to substantially overhaul and possibly replace” the state’s Common Core Standards, Blake Neff’s article in the Daily Caller claims. “While there has been a major Common Core backlash in several Republican-controlled states, it has been sturdier in blue states. Should New York pull out, it would be the first Democratic state to do so, and could pave the way for others to follow suit,” the article states.
While the Common Core Task Force in New York recommends significant changes to the state’s education standards, its report actually stresses the “importance of adopting and maintaining high educational standards.” Those changes, it adds, should be built on the “foundation established by the Common Core Standards” and “maintain the key instructional shifts set forth in the Common Core Standards.”
In a new memo, Karen Nussle explains that New York becomes “the latest in a long line of states” to hone and build on the Common Core, exactly as the standards were designed. “Just as scores of other states have done, New York will maintain the high quality and rigor that have distinguished the new standards from previous K-12 standards… Common Core State Standards have endured more than three intense years of political and legislative assault by activists, and in that time, they have proven their resiliency.
Support in New York for high standards can also be seen in a new Center for American Progress survey, which showed that more than 70 percent of respondents have a positive view of the Common Core, but because many misperceptions still persist “it’s no surprise” that some states have made alterations to the standards but kept the substance.
Across the country, even the most conservative-leaning states are sticking with the Common Core. That flies in the face of predictions of many critics made that states would move away from rigorous, consistent standards en masse.
Mike Petrilli, president of the Fordham Institute, explains one reason states continue to implement Common Core State Standards is that it’s “impossible” to come up with college- and career-ready standards that look nothing like the Common Core. “That’s because Common Core, though not perfect, represents a good-faith effort to incorporate the current evidence of what students need to know and do to succeed.
About the Collaborative for Student Success
At our core, we believe leaders at all levels have a role to play in ensuring success for K-12 students. From ensuring schools and teachers are equipped with the best materials to spotlighting the innovative and bold ways federal recovery dollars are being used to drive needed changes, the Collaborative for Student Success aims to inform and amplify policies making a difference for students and families.
To recover from the most disruptive event in the history of American public schools, states and districts are leveraging unprecedented resources to make sure classrooms are safe for learning, providing students and teachers with the high-quality instructional materials they deserve, and are rethinking how best to measure learning so supports are targeted where they’re needed most.