The Real Story Behind the Common Core

Michael Cohen President, Achieve May 18, 2014

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States are the Laboratories of American Democracy

States: Leaders of the Standards Movement Since 1980s

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Time for Results —NGA, 1986 National Education

Summit & Goals —1989

States Develop Standards: NY, CA, KY, AR, VT —early 1990s

49 States Adopt State Standards

—by 1999

Diploma Project Network —2005

Out of Many, One—Achieve,

2008Benchmarking

for Success NGA, CCSSO,

Achieve —2008

Feds Have Contributed $ But Not Content

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USED grants to states,

national orgs

1990 1991 1994 1997 2001

Bush Admin. proposes American

Achievement Exams; Congress

fails to enact

Goals 2000 & Improving America’s

Schools Act enacted

Clinton Admin. proposes Voluntary

National Tests; Congress fails

to fundNCLB

enacted

50 Different State Standards & Tests, Common Weaknesses

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State Standards Not Aligned with Real World Demands of College and Careers

=

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The American Diploma Project Network

35 States Collaborate to Align State Standards to Real World Demands

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ADP Network States

Identifying Common Core of College and Career Ready

Standards

Common Core State Standards Initiative

• Launched in 2009

• State Leaders Chose to Address Weaknesses Collaboratively

• Coordinated By NGA & CCSSO

• Yearlong Process

• Results Supported by Unions, Business & Higher Ed

• Adopted by 45 States, D.C. and DODEA

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Common Myths About the Common Core

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“Common Core Will Lead to Federal Curriculum”

“Common Core Violates Federal Laws”

“Common Core is a Vast Federal Overreach by the Obama Administration”

“Common Core is a Conspiracy Led by the Gates Foundation, Big Business and the American Legislative Exchange Council”