Why Aren't the Common Core Standards Working?

Common Core Standards are a set of academic standards that have been adopted in 45 states and the District of Columbia to ensure that all students graduate from high school ready for college or career. They are research-based and aligned with college and career expectations.

These standards were created by a partnership between state governors and chief state school officers. They were developed through a series of work groups that included teachers, parents and education experts from around the country.

The goal was to create a set of academic standards that would be consistent and challenging for students, no matter where they lived. The new standards were also expected to help close gaps in student achievement between advantaged and disadvantaged schools.

However, the Common Core has not yet been able to deliver on its promises. In fact, standardized test scores are showing that the Core has not significantly improved student performance in most states.

In Illinois, for example, only one third of the state’s public school students are achieving at the high level required under the new learning standards, and many low-income school districts continue to struggle.

Moreover, even those students who are meeting the new standards still struggle with reading and math. Those students have been consistently lagging behind their peers on standardized tests since the Common Core began in 2010.

Why aren’t these standards working?
There are a number of reasons that the Common Core standards have not been successful. Among these are the following:

They homogenize learning
The Common Core standards are a "one-size-fits-all" approach to education. This is a problem because it fails to recognize that every student learns in different ways. It also ignores the fact that some students have special needs that make it difficult for them to meet these standards.

It also encourages teaching to the test
The standards were written to give teachers a framework for preparing students for standardized testing. This can be a good thing because it allows teachers to better understand what they should be teaching. But it can also be a bad thing because it may cause teachers to focus on the test rather than the student.

They don’t challenge students enough
Another big problem with the Common Core is that it doesn't really challenge students. Educators say that the standards don't do a good job of challenging students.

They do not include history or specific issues such as evolution or "intelligent design." This can be a problem because students aren't always prepared to discuss these topics when they reach middle school.

In addition, they require students to use evidence instead of personal experience when writing papers. This can be a challenge for students who are struggling with English or are learning a second language, but it's a necessary step to building critical-thinking skills.

The Common Core is designed to help students become more literate and more analytical, but it's not perfect. It can be confusing for students to understand what's required of them, and it can also make some students feel overwhelmed and anxious. This is why some educators are arguing against the Core.