Myths About Common Core

Common Core critics are continuously spreading myths about the standards, but editorial boards, educators, district superintendents and the business community are stepping up to correct the record.

Myths fuel attacks on 'Common Core' standards: Our view

By The Editorial Board, USA Today

June 11, 2013

“Talk show host Glenn Beck warned: ‘Progressives have jammed this through in the dead of night.’ The Republican National Committee blasted Common Core as ‘an inappropriate overreach.’ “That might come as a surprise to leading conservatives, such as former governors Jeb Bush and Mike Huckabee, who have championed Common Core. The standards are a quintessential state effort. They bubbled up from state school superintendents, later joined by the National Governors Association, where this year 31 governors are Republicans. Common Core was voluntarily approved by states and championed by the business community. It does not mandate curriculum or even texts. That's still up to states and districts.”

Don’t fall for myths about Common Core

By The Editorial Board, Charlotte Observer

June 11, 2013

“That’s the first and biggest myth about Common Core - that it’s a federal takeover of education. That whopper is part of a new push from tea party groups to get governors and state legislatures to reconsider their participation in the standards. In a few states, at least, it’s working. Governors in Indiana and Pennsylvania have hit the pause button on Common Core, and members of Michigan’s House and Senate have refused to fund implementation of the standards. “In North Carolina, Lt. Gov. Dan Forest wants a closer look, too, even though the state began implementing Common Core standards this school year. Last week, Forest complained that North Carolina has handed control of its education standards to national groups, and he said that teachers weren’t properly involved in determining what students should learn. N.C. teachers did have that opportunity, however, and many provided input in meetings that Forest, now a member of the state education board, apparently missed. “Forest might also be unaware that prominent conservatives and business organizations, including the North Carolina Chamber, support the rigorous Common Core standards because they’ll help students and businesses become more competitive internationally. Those conservatives and groups understand that states and local districts, not the feds, will decide what and how to teach in order to meet the goals. There are no mandatory ‘Big Brother’ reading lists - another tea party myth - just suggestions about what genres make for a well-balanced student reader.”

Superintendents, St. Rep. Lloyd Larsen debunk myths surrounding Common Core State Standards

By Ernie Over, County 10 (WY)

June 11, 2013

“In discussing the issue with the superintendents, Larsen said much of the talk he’s heard is about are concerns that there are strings attached to the standards coming from the federal government. ‘That’s what I hear the most, yes, (U.S. Dept. of Education) Race to the Top funding was tied to common core to entice states to look at that,’ he said. ‘However, Wyoming didn’t take any Race to the Top funds and we were not even the first to adopt it; all states around us adopted it before us, and Utah is in the process. There is an abundance of information (about common core) on the Internet, and however truthful it may be, does not mean it is applicable to Wyoming. I believe most of the misinformation is coming from well intentioned people using resources from the internet that is not applicable to Wyoming.’”

Huckabee calls for support of Common Core

By The Editorial Board, Tulsa World June 8, 2013

Link “Now comes former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, whose conservative credentials are impeccable, in defense of Common Core, which he said has been ‘near and dear to my heart’ since his days as governor. “In a letter to Oklahoma legislators, Huckabee said he was disturbed by ‘criticisms of these standards directed by other conservatives,’ and added that the criticisms are "short-sighted." Huckabee said he has heard the claims that the standards threaten local control of what's being taught in classrooms. ‘Speaking from one conservative to another, let me assure you this simply is not true.’

Common Core standards raise expectations

By Brenda Payne, The Tennessean

June 6, 2013

“Increasingly in meetings with our manufacturing sector, CEO Roundtable and Economic and Community Development Committee, local business leaders and chamber members often talk about the difficulty in recruiting employees with these kinds of skills. They are excited and encouraged about Tennessee’s work to better align workforce needs with our public education system. “The new standards are more challenging, and students are learning important concepts in earlier grades. The standards are also internationally competitive, which is important since competition for jobs doesn’t just come from across the state; it comes from across the world. “As Tennesseans, we should expect the highest levels of success from the children in our community, which is why the work we’re doing in Hendersonville is so important.”

Join the distinguished ‘corps’ of advocates supporting the Common Core!

By Caroline McCullen, SAS Voices - part of SAS Blogs

May 31, 2013

“Some things are just common sense, and having common academic standards for all states is one of those things. In a national milestone event, 45 states and the District of Columbia recently coalesced around a common set of standards for math and English/language arts. The process did not happen overnight, and there were many detours and roadblocks along the way. Nevertheless, this year states began to implement the new Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and classrooms are beginning to change for the better. “Change is never easy. Although some resistance to the CCSS was expected, we are now seeing more organized efforts to block the implementation of the standards. Several groups are either misinformed or intentionally misleading the public about the process used to develop the standards, the organizations that initiated this effort and the standards themselves. In response, I would like to debunk several of these myths about the Common Core State Standards.

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Achieve has developed materials to help states, districts, and others understand the organization and content of the standards and the content and evidence base used to support the standards. Visit www.achieve.org/achieving-common-core. If you find a news clip supportive of the Common Core, please send it to Chad Colby at ccolby@achieve.org.