I can't even begin to explain the confusion, disappointment, and exasperation I feel about Achieve right now, the organization that's purportedly??all about pushing states to raise standards. First there was the announcement last week that the National Education Association was joining the "common state standards" movement led by Achieve, the??National Governors Association, and the Council of Chief State School Officers. It's fine that the NEA wants to be involved,??but in its release, the organization depicted the initiative as working toward "21st Century Skills."??Was this just spin, or is this effort really about pushing skills over content? There are worrying signs that it's the latter.
Then there's today's announcement that Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is joining Achieve's board. This is the same Governor Patrick who has declared war on the Bay State's academic standards and rigorous accountability system. (See this great Education Next article for background.) And sure enough, there he is, in Achieve's release, talking about the 21st Century:
In Massachusetts, our students have achieved at the highest levels, but we still have a persistent achievement gap. We must continue to reform our education system so that every student is prepared for success in the 21st Century global economy.
Sure, continue to reform the system, but do it by going forwards, not backwards.
Achieve, what are you doing, aiding and abetting what is obviously an effort to diminish standards, fuzzy up accountability, and push nebulous "skills" over literature, history, art, science, and math? Achieve, Achieve, why have you forsaken us?
