Yesterday, the Center on Education Policy released survey results that detail the views of school districts on the Common Core State Standards in the states that have adopted them so far. The Common Core is a push to standardize K-12 learning expectations across the nation–a break from the long tradition of local control in American schools–and to ensure that high-school students are better prepared for college and careers.
About 60 percent of the districts surveyed in the 43 states and Washington, D.C. that had adopted the Common Core when the survey was conducted say the new standards are more rigorous than what was previously in place, according to the Center on Education Policy. Two-thirds of districts surveyed report having begun to develop implementation plans and timelines, or the intention to develop such plans during the current school year.
However, more than three-quarters of districts expressed serious concerns about whether there will be adequate funding for all elements of the Common Core, and two-thirds said they’ve received inadequate or unclear guidance from their states about how to proceed.
If these hurdles can be cleared, however, the districts believe the changes will be welcomed by parents, community members and educators. Only 10 percent of districts said they anticipate resistance from principals and teachers being a major challenge in implementing the Common Core. Fifty-eight percent see such potential resistance as a minor challenge.
If you live in a state that has adopted the Common Core, what are your thoughts about it so far?
