Common Core: What It Is and Why You Need To Know About It

Common Core is the subject of this episode of the McCuistion Program as well as the subject of many conversations happening around the country when discussing education standards.

Joining host, Dennis McCuistion, to discuss the controversy over the Common Core are guests:

• Kathleen Leos: Former Assistant Deputy Director, US Department of Education and
  CEO: Global Institute for Language and Literacy Development
• Louis Malfaro: Secretary/ Treasurer, Texas American Federation of Teachers

What is Common Core?
State education chiefs and governors in 48 states came together to develop the Common Core, a set of clear, college and career ready standards for kindergarten through 12th grade in English language arts/literacy and mathematics. Today, 43 states have voluntarily adopted and are working to implement the standards, which are designed to ensure that students graduating from high school are prepared to take credit bearing introductory courses in two or four-year college programs or enter the workforce.

Common Core was initially created to ensure high standards that are consistent across states and provide clear expectations so all students, regardless of where they live in the US, graduate from high school with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in college, career and life. Its intent was rigorous, aimed at ensuring all students are prepared to compete with their peers and not fall behind their peers in other countries. Common Core provides a framework so more distinct standards are looked at. It’s not about how teachers should teach, but about the information we want used in a classroom environment. Common Core also allows for how and why individuals, events or ideas develop and interact over the course of a learning text.

Additionally the Common Core allows for more collaboration with other states on a wide range of tools and policies including:

• The development of the necessary tools and other support systems that would help teachers and school systems ensure students are able to learn the new standards
• The development of digital media, textbooks and other learning tools
• The development of common comprehensive assessment systems, replacing present testing systems so student performance can be measured annually.

Yet while teachers have been a critical voice in the development of these standards, there is still a strong backlash to the Common Core implementation across the US.

Join us to learn from our guests about the pros and cons of the Common Core and what must happen to raise the standard of US education nationwide.

Thank you for joining us as we continue talking about things that matter with people who care- now in our 25th year of thought provoking topics…

Regards:
Niki

Niki N. McCuistion
Executive Producer/Producer
Consultant and speaker:
On Engaging Employees, Organizational Culture, Governance and Strategic Planning
nikin@nikimccuistion.com
(214) 394-6794

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