The Common Core standards were written in 2009 under the aegis of several D.C.-based organizations: the National Governors Association, the Council of Chief State School Officers, and Achieve. The development process was led behind closed doors by a small organization called Student Achievement Partners, headed by David Coleman. The writing group of 27 contained few educators, but a significant number of representatives of the testing industry. From the outset, the Common Core standards were marked by the absence of public participation, transparency, or educator participation. In a democracy, transparency is crucial, because transparency and openness builds trust. Those crucial ingredients were lacking.
... Some states—like Kentucky–adopted the Common Core standards sight unseen. Some—like Texas—refused to adopt them sight unseen. Some—like Massachusetts—adopted them even though their own standards were demonstrably better and had been proven over time.
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I'm old enough to remember when core curriculum was determined by dedicated teachers who imposed discipline and standards, and one of their weapons was the good old fashioned graded pop quiz. No date certain and no standardization which insured that lessons were not crammed for, no excuses. Abolish the federal Dept. of Education ( 86 billion dollars a year) and fight Common Core to its death.
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