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Education Dive
Report: US reading, math scores drop after Common Core implementation
Shawna De La Rosa
April 29, 2020
Dive Brief:
Reading and math scores on the National Assessment of Educational
Progress have seen "historic declines" since states implemented the
Common Core English and math standards, according to a new analysis by
Pioneer Institute, a conservative Massachusetts think tank.
Prior to implementation of the Common Core, from 2003-2013, scores were
on the slow rise in 4th and 8th grade at the rate of an average of half
a point per year. For the past six years, however, 4th grade scores
have fallen by less than half a point each year, and 8th-grade scores
have fallen at nearly a whole point per year. Overall, math scores
dropped at a faster rate than reading scores.
Losses among the lowest-achieving students "appear to have wiped out"
their gains in decades prior to Common Core. Students who were
performing in the 90th percentile, on the other hand, have continued to
gradually improve, the report shows.
Dive Insight:
The report will likely strengthen the argument of policymakers pushing
to move away from the standards. Florida, for example, recently dropped
Common Core State Standards with an executive order from Republican
Gov. Ron DeSantis. The state has released new academic standards,
expected to be implemented in the 2021-22 school year, that include
changes to English and math instruction, emphasize civics education and
streamline testing. Florida stakeholders drew inspiration from
Minnesota, which developed its own math standards rather than using
Common Core, and is a top-performing state in math.
South Carolina, Oklahoma and Indiana also repealed the standards, and
the Trump administration doesn't offer incentives for states to adopt
Common Core, as the Obama administration did. But some states, such as
Colorado, have also made revisions without a complete repeal.
Some experts see more positive outcomes since adoption of the
standards. Michael Kirst, former president of the California State
Board of Education, said Common Core has not failed in California. He
said from 2015 to 2019, the percentage of California 3rd-graders that
met or exceeded standards in English and math increased by 10%.
California teachers are beginning to embrace Common Core, with more
than twice as many California teachers and principals agreeing than
disagreeing that the standards are more relevant, rigorous and improve
college and career readiness.
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