Money for new curriculum is out, education firms ready sales pitch
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New state money to help with Common Core learning standards can be used for teacher training, new materials and technology. The state plans to spend $1.25 billion on the transition.
Money hits schools this week to help in the transition to new the Common Core learning standards. The California legislature appropriated $200 per student to purchase new materials, teacher training and technology.
The list of products emblazoned with Common Core is growing long: there are seminars, tablets, trainers, a library of new books, and, yes, many apps.
The Common Core is a set of new learning standards that emphasizes analytical thinking over rote memorization.
“I probably have 20 or 30 different books over there – samples. I haven’t bought any yet," said Craig Merrill, the principal of Global Education Academy, an elementary charter school near USC.
“There are a lot of people coming out of the woodwork. I get emails everyday from individuals, organizations who are promoting this or that,” he said.
Merrill said most of the ads will end up in the trash can. His school will spend the bulk