Some critics believe some states in the U.S. may be "going too fast" when it comes to the Common Core.
So says an article in the Christian Science Monitor, where it was reported that New Jersey, Maryland, and Washington are the first states to "tie graduation to new Common Core tests." This move, the article said, is a "bump against resistance."
"Forty-three states are currently signed on to the Common Core State Standards, a voluntary system designed to ensure that high school graduates are prepared for college," the article said. "New Jersey, Maryland, and Washington are among a smaller number starting to link graduation requirements to the new and more challenging Common Core testing systems."
There are supporters of this initiative, the article said, who say "the moves are a natural part of the transition from the adoption phase of Common Core to actually implementing the standards in a meaningful way." There are also critics, who say the "process is moving way too fast."
“Common Core tests are not ready for prime time,” said Robert Schaeffer, public education director for FairTest, the National Center for Fair and Open Testing in Boston.
"New Jersey is planning to roll out its tests before it has even decided what the passing scores will be – essentially experimenting with the first students who take it," the article said. "Meanwhile, Maryland is planning to divide its test results into two tiers, a move that critics say waters down the essential purpose of Common Core."
"The goal of the new standards and tests is to improve on abysmal stats like this one: About 40 percent of high school graduates in the US have to take remedial courses in math or English before they can start earning college credits," the article said.
Read the full story.
Article by Kassondra Granata, EducationWorld Contributor
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