As you know if you've read the New York Times, Associated Press, Washington Post, Houston Chronicle, Cincinnati Enquirer, Richmond Times Dispatch, Des Moines Register, or one of dozens of other newspapers this morning*, Fordham released a new report today, The State of State Standards?and the Common Core?in 2010.
We found that the vast majority of states have English and math standards that are ?clearly inferior? to the Common Core. However, about a dozen states in each subject have standards that are in the same league as the Common Core, and three jurisdictions?California, Indiana, and the District of Columbia?boast English standards that are actually superior to the common standards.
But what's heartening is this: as you can see from our nifty maps, most of the 28 or so states that have already adopted the Common Core are moving from ?clearly inferior? standards to something much better. As a result, the national average for state standards has already gone from a ?C? for both math and English (pre-Common Core adoption) to a B-plus for math and a B for English, now that these states have switched standards. In just the last month or so, America has raised the bar by at least a letter grade, from mediocre to very good standards.
Of course, as everyone knows, standards alone don't change anything. They are just aspirations. But if combined with rigorous assessments, high ?cut scores,? meaningful accountability, and strong implementation, they can move mountains, as we've learned from Massachusetts over the past decade.
Yes, that's a huge ?if,? but still, the country is raising its expectations, and for that we should be glad.
-Mike Petrilli
* I know, this is shameless self-promotion. I couldn't help it!
