Common Core Standards: Hardly an Evidence-based Policy
The reform-bound train has left the station and is rolling across the country. Twenty-eight states have adopted the new “common core” English and math standards and both liberals and conservatives are on board. But there is little evidence in the caboose to support either the policy or its goal.
Even as pundits and policymakers say the national standards train will pick up more states (Virginia, Texas, and Alaska don’t want to get on board now), the sweet promise of that reform to finally end the perpetual (or is itmanufactured?) crisis surrounding U.S. schools beckons. But, and you knew there was a “but” coming, as the train hurtles across both “red” and “blue” states, serious questions about adopting voluntarily national curriculum standards and evidence for embracing those standards have to be asked.
Presidents H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush have sought national goals such “common core” standards so that the U.S. would be better able to compete with Asian and European for global markets. Now,President Obama has reaffirmed that goal. In a talk to the nation’s governors he said:
“[Asian nations] want their kids to excel because they understand that whichever country out-educates the other
