Out of Sync: Many Common Core states have yet to define a Common Core-worthy diploma (At a Glance)
Forty-five states and the District of Columbia have voluntarily adopted rigorous Common Core State Standards for what their K-12 public school students should know and be able to do in mathematics and English Language Arts. Yet most of these states have yet to take a critical step towards making those standards a reality: they do not require high school graduates to complete the math classes that typically cover the content described in the new standards.1 Until states and districts re-examine their graduation policies, a high school diploma will not necessarily signify college- and career-readiness as envisioned by Common Core.
Change the Equation and the National School Boards Association’s Center for Public Education have compared states’ high school graduation requirements in math to the Common Core standards to see how well they align. We determined that graduation requirements most likely to be aligned to the Common Core standards must include math in each year of high school and convey substantial content typically taught in Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II classes. (See our methodology for a complete description of how we determined alignment).2
According to our analysis, graduation requirements in only 11 Common Core states meet this definition of alignment, and requirements in 13 are partially aligned.3 This leaves 22 states that have adopted the Common Core but lack corresponding graduation requirements that match the expectations of new standards.4 Some Common Core states with rigorous graduation requirements are rolling them back. Florida recently removed Algebra II from its requirements, and Michigan may follow suit.
Click map to enlarge in new window.
It is important to note that our definition of alignment does not tell the whole story. Even states whose graduation requirements appear to reflect the demands of the Common Core may still have much work to do to ensure that their high school course sequence and content is truly aligned to the standards. Because the Common Core Sta
- See more at: http://www.centerforpubliceducation.org/out-sync#sthash.kIrd6iCw.dpuf
Change the Equation and the National School Boards Association’s Center for Public Education have compared states’ high school graduation requirements in math to the Common Core standards to see how well they align. We determined that graduation requirements most likely to be aligned to the Common Core standards must include math in each year of high school and convey substantial content typically taught in Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II classes. (See our methodology for a complete description of how we determined alignment).2
According to our analysis, graduation requirements in only 11 Common Core states meet this definition of alignment, and requirements in 13 are partially aligned.3 This leaves 22 states that have adopted the Common Core but lack corresponding graduation requirements that match the expectations of new standards.4 Some Common Core states with rigorous graduation requirements are rolling them back. Florida recently removed Algebra II from its requirements, and Michigan may follow suit.
Click map to enlarge in new window.
It is important to note that our definition of alignment does not tell the whole story. Even states whose graduation requirements appear to reflect the demands of the Common Core may still have much work to do to ensure that their high school course sequence and content is truly aligned to the standards. Because the Common Core Sta