Understanding Common Core Standards
Common Core is a buzzword that many hear from educators. As a parent, it’s important to determine whether the Common Core is relevant to you and your child. Let’s begin by clarifying what Common Core is—and what it is not.
What is Common Core?
The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) initiative began in 2010, led by the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). It establishes a consistent set of expectations for what students should know and be able to do in math and reading from grades K-12. These standards ensure that learning expectations remain uniform across states, meaning students nationwide study the same essential concepts in math and reading.
The Purpose
The primary goal of the Common Core is to prepare students for college and the workforce. It sets the standard for what schools must teach and what educators should focus on. Forty-seven states have adopted both the math and reading standards, while only three states have adopted either math or reading but not both.
To be clear, Common Core is not a curriculum; rather, it defines what a curriculum must include. Each state or school district may use a different curriculum, but it must align with the required state standards for math and reading.
For example, if the state standards require that all kindergarten students identify numbers up to 10 by mid-year (December), then any school district’s curriculum must ensure that students receive instruction to meet this standard. In other words, schools must incorporate these learning goals into their curriculum by the designated time.
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How Does Common Core Benefit Parents?
As a parent, understanding what your child is expected to learn at each grade level is an advantage when selecting a school or school district. Ensuring that a district follows the strategic requirements set by the Common Core can be crucial in making an informed choice.
Why does this matter? The Common Core’s primary objective is to prepare your child for future academic and career success—which is likely your objective as a parent, too.
How Does Common Core Help Your Child?
Now that you understand what Common Core is—and what it is not—you may wonder how it directly impacts your child’s education.
At specific grade levels, students take state standardized tests designed to assess how well they have mastered the Common Core Standards. But will these test scores affect your child’s grades?
Find out in our next article: “What is Common Core? How Does It Affect You?” (Part 2)—where we discuss the impact of Common Core Standards on you as a parent and your child’s education.
Education Staff Writer
Edutopia. (2019, February 12). Understanding the common core
