Myth
The federal government created the standards The federal government will use the standards to take control of education away from states The standards tell teachers how to teach The standards dictate curriculum to schools The standards are not internationally bench-marked The standards don't have enough emphasis on fiction/literature The mathematics standards have subjects missing or in the wrong grade |
Reality
The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state-led effort launched by state leaders including governors and state commissioners of education from more than 40 states, 2 territories, and the District of Columbia, though the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers. The standards are state led, and states will retain control of adopting and participating in the standards. The standards define what students need to know, but they don't tell teachers how to teach or how students should learn. There is no required state curriculum in Missouri. Local school districts choose their own curriculum. International bench-marking was a big part of the development of the standards. The standards include Shakespeare, America's founding documents, foundational American literature, and more. The remaining literature is left up to local districts. However, college and career readiness focuses on complex texts outside of literature. The standards require more nonfiction reading and writing in other subjects supporting English language arts and literacy in subject areas like science, social studies, and history. The mathematical progressions are evidenced based and build upon students' mastery of skills. The progression leads to college and career readiness at an internationally competitive level. |