Milford Middle School eighth-graders Keagon Hodson, left, and Siera Littlejohn, work together on designing a poster for a periodic table of elements science project in Amy Evans’ classroom. In this particular classroom, the teacher requested individual desks be replaced by tables to help facilitate more group learning. (Photo by Tim Ashley)

Common Core curriculum, a state standards initiative, is attracting more attention statewide. Some support the curriculum, while others have numerous concerns.

Common Core is a state-led effort establishing a single set of clear educational standards for kindergarten through 12th grade in English, language arts and math that states voluntarily adopt. Leading the Common Core effort was the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers. More than 40 states have adopted Common Core standards.

In Indiana, the state board of education adopted Common Core in 2010. The original intent was to adopt the standards for all 12 grades and to begin testing on those standards during the 2014-15 academic year. But that plan was changed and the state so far has only required the standards be taught through the second grade.

And the plan was put on hold because it has generated controversy. Some feel the standards will be dictated by the U.S. Department of Education, rather than at the state level, and will continue to mean high stakes standardized testing as part of state education policy. Students will be required to learn more at a quicker pace than ever before and there are other concerns, too.

A 12-member summer study committee made up of Democrats and Republicans from the House and Senate in the Indiana General Assembly declined to make any recommendations about whether Indiana should stick with Common Core or not.

Wawasee teaches Common Core fully in kindergarten and first grade, while grades two through 12 have teachers teaching both Common Core and the previous state standards. “We have always taught the state adopted standards,” noted Joy Goshert, director of instruction and curriculum for the Wawasee Community School Corp.

Wawasee Superintendent Dr. Tom Edington said Common Core “is a buzzword that has caused all kinds of emotions.” He noted it was implemented by Indiana without much discussion and that is what has caused the political discussions, but “we feel like kids need to be ready for the world they will enter.”

Edington said Common Core has expectations students need to learn to read and write at a more technical level and to be able to use that knowledge to follow directions or assemble something. “The way you go about learning and show what you have learned expects group work to be involved and for the students to assemble what they have learned to make some kind of a presentation,” he said.

“Students learn sometimes there is more than one right thought or answer,” Edington added.
It has meant teachers have had to make adjustments and for those who have taught a certain way for several years, the transition has been more difficult.

Some are concerned schools will be forced to teach certain standards, but Goshert said that is not accurate. “We do have flexibility and still choose the materials for learning,” she said.
Goshert noted, though, Indiana did not at first look at the standards to see if anything should be added, but now groups of educators are involved, in math for example, to see if there any gaps in the standards. But she emphasized Common Core is about state standards and is not a national assessment as some believe.