Common Core News Clips

There was a lot of activity from Common Core supporters this week. Earlier this week we shared pieces from opinion writers and articles with quotes from classroom teachers. Today the clips include submissions in major daily newspapers by a higher education leader, two mathematics professors, and a classroom teacher.

Former chancellor: Common Core investment will help Oklahoma students succeed

By Paul Risser, The Oklahoman

May 9, 2013

http://newsok.com/former-chancellor-common-core-investment-will-help-oklahoma-students-succeed/article/3808081 [1]

"The value of CCSS is that they promote equality by ensuring that Oklahoma students, wherever they live, are well prepared with the skills and knowledge necessary to collaborate and compete with their peers. We're simply not being fair to the future of our students if we isolate them from the educational standards of their competitors.

"In 2010, Oklahoma adopted the CCSS in English and mathematics, as did 45 states, the District of Columbia, four territories and the Department of Defense Education Activity. Subsequent discussion in Oklahoma has been uninformed, which is frightening in itself. Just to be clear, the federal government did not promulgate CCSS. Representatives from states (National Governors Association) and schools (Council of Chief State School Officers) carefully developed and adopted the standards with input from teachers and education experts."

"These standards are not a national curriculum. They do not dictate how teachers should teach. That is the responsibility of local schools and teachers."

Republicans Should Love 'Common Core'

By Edward Frenkel and Hung-Hsi Wu, The Wall Street Journal

May 6, 2013

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324482504578453502155934978.html [2]

"It is more important than ever that we create a level playing field to give students from all states equal opportunity to thrive in our technology-driven world in which formulas and equations play a crucial role. With more and more jobs requiring more and more mathematical knowledge, we are obligated to provide our children with equal access to a quality mathematics education, and this is the whole point of the Core Standards.

"The only way to combat the current lock-step march to the bottom of international student performance in math and science is to implement rigorous national standards. That is why parents, teachers and policy makers should oppose efforts to scale back the hard-won and necessary Common Core State Standards."

Reader's view: Common Core opponents base criticism on misinformation

By Travis Manning, Idaho Statesman

May 5, 2013

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2013/05/05/2563880/opponents-base-criticismon-misinformation.html [3]

"But I think the misinformation campaign on the CCSS has gotten out of control.

"As a teacher, I've read and already begun implementing the Idaho Core Standards, as have a majority of teachers across this state. In preparation for the 2014-15 school year, when students and teachers will be entirely accountable to Idaho Core Standards, I find them to be challenging and worthwhile for my students.

"Ask Idaho teachers what they think about the Idaho Core Standards. Trust the experts."

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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 http://www.achieve.org/achieving-common-core [4].

If you find a news clip supportive of the Common Core, please send it to Chad Colby at ccolby@achieve.org [5].