Tag Archive for: Common Core

Mass. schools must recommit to knowledge-based curriculum

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The Bay State’s leadership role has continued into the current century. Massachusetts made tremendous strides in the years following passage of a landmark 1993 education reform law. But it has been backsliding since 2010, when it adopted weaker English and math standards known as Common Core. To get back on track, Massachusetts must reform its school- and district-level curriculum to emphasize imparting a shared body of background knowledge and social commitment to students in all ZIP codes.

California’s Common Core Apologia

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In a recent blog, Dr. Michael Kirst, past president of the California State Board of Education, attempts to defend his record of Common Core implementation during that period. But policy experts Ze’ev Wurman & Williamson Evers set the Golden State's record during Common Core straight.

Study Finds Historic Drop in National Reading and Math Scores Since Adoption of Common Core Curriculum Standards

New study shows that, breaking with decades of slow improvement, U.S. reading and math scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and other assessments have seen historic declines since most states implemented national Common Core English and math curriculum standards six years ago.

Joy Pullmann on the Fallout from Common Core

Joy Pullmann, executive editor of The Federalist, talks with The Learning Curve about the mediocre NAEP and PISA results, after a decade of the Common Core national education standards and the failed experiment with federal involvement in standards, curricula, and tests. They also discuss social emotional learning, parental involvement, and the media’s coverage of K-12 education policy issues.

This Week on “The Learning Curve”: Natalie Wexler on her new book, The Knowledge Gap

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Bob & Cara talk with Natalie Wexler, author of "The Knowledge Gap: The Hidden Cause of America’s Broken Education System–And How to Fix It," about the shift in K-12 education, even in the Common Core era, from an emphasis on academic content to empty skills and strategies.

How Massachusetts Showed the Way on Education Reform

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By Jamie Gass & Charles Chieppo Read this op-ed in The…

Study: After-School Programs Can Help Improve Flat or Declining Math Achievement

Philanthropic, other organizations should consider providing…

Study Finds Declining Student Achievement and Increased Harm to School Choice Since Common Core

Read coverage of this report in The Daily Caller, Breitbart News,…

Op-ed: A Frankenstein’s monster attacks school literature

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This op-ed appeared in The Springfield Republican, The Berkshire…

Op-ed: Gulliver’s Travels and Common Core

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This op-ed appeared in The Daily Caller and The New Bedford…

Study Finds Common Core Incompatible With Catholic Education

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Singular focus on workforce development conflicts with Catholic…

The Education Writers Association casts its narrowing gaze on Boston, May 1-3

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Many billions have been spent, and continue to be spent, promoting…

Fordham report predictable, conflicted

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Guest Post by Richard P. Phelps On November 17, the Massachusetts…

Study: Poor Performance of Other States in PARCC Consortium Would Translate to Lower Standards for Mass.

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Attacks on MCAS for not producing “college-ready” graduates…

Testing the Tests: Why MCAS Is Better Than PARCC

Study:  MCAS Less Expensive, More Rigorous and Provides Better…

Op-ed: Big money pushes PARCC and Common Core

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Each year, much is written and said about K-12 education when…

Why Massachusetts Should Abandon the PARCC Tests & Common Core

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It is difficult to find any public analysis and comments by teachers,…

Patriot Ledger: TOM BIRMINGHAM: Plan to scrap MCAS is a race to the middle

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Read this op-ed in The Patriot Ledger, where it was originally…

Why Huck Finn Matters: Classic Literature in Schooling (Pt. 1: Keynotes)

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The Pioneer Institute hosted a forum September 19, 2012 at…

Don’t Waste the Crisis over Common Core

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The entire Common Core project is rapidly going south, and within…

Steps for States to Follow to Replace Common Core

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To help out governors and state legislatures that really want…

Common Core’s standards can be replaced by first-rate standards overnight

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In a funny story in the Washington Post on December 24, 2014,…

How to Make Common Core Useful?

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What could be done to make the idea of a common core across 50…

Jeb Bush’s Rhetoric and Reality on Common Core

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Pioneer Institute respects Governor Jeb Bush’s education reform…

Massachusetts Gubernatorial Candidates on K-12 Education Policy

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K-12 education policy too often is the province of powerful special…