Talking Points for Common Core State Standards

We have heard lots of talk about the Common Core State Standards.  And not all of the talk has been based on facts. 

The process for developing the new voluntary state standards was begun in 2009 by the National Governors' Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers.  Policymakers, parents and the business community supported the effort. 

But recently, as the Obama Administration has begun to promote the benefits of the state standards, some folks are expressing opposition.  Some even are saying the reading and math standards developed by the states somehow are a liberal plot to indoctrinate our youth!

Facts don't always matter to some people, but here are some talking points that may be useful.

• Math is math.  Simply put, math is no different in Boise than in Boston.
• Our American students will be competing for jobs with people from all over the world, and should have a solid understanding of math, as well as English Language Arts and other subjects.
• The Common Core State Standards were developed by the states, not by the federal government.  The National Governors' Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers organized and convened many meetings of state officials, who developed the standards.
• The U.S. Department of Education had no role in creating the state standards, but is encouraging states to adopt them -- as 45 states and the District of Columbia have done -- in order to help students succeed.
• The Common Core State Standards outline what to teach, not how to teach it.  States and local school districts develop their own curricula.
• The Common Core State Standards are robust and relevant to today's world. 
• Our students are our future.  The Common Core State Standards reflect what our students need to know in order to succeed in college and their careers.

I hope this helps.