Common Core: It Seemed Like a Good Idea Until It Existed
In 2008, Education Next asked 3,200 respondents (700 of whom were public school teachers) about their thoughts on having “the same set of educational standards” in order to “hold schools accountable.” Respondents were divided into sub-samples and asked one of the two following questions. Included are the percentages of respondents who chose among three response options:
Question Version One
For holding schools accountable, should the federal government establish the same set of educational standards for the whole country and given the same tests in math, science, and reading? Or do you think that there should be different standards and tests in different states?
One test and standard for all students: 69% (public) 54% (teachers)
Different standards and tests in different states: 19% (public) 21% (teachers)
No national or state tests should be given: 13% (public) 25% (teachers)
Question Version Two
For holding schools accountable, should all state governments adopt the same set of educational standards and give the same tests in math, science, and reading? Or do you think that there should be different standards and tests in different states?
One test and standard for all students: 69% (public) 56% (teachers)
Different standards and tests in different states: 19% (public) 24% (teachers)
No national or state tests should be given: 11% (public) 20% (teachers)
Now, this was in 2008– the year that No Child Left Behind (NCLB) was supposed to be reauthorized following its original 2007 delay and its facing a “problematic” fate due to its “mov[ing] into the presidential election year.” In the 2008 EdNext survey, the public was almost equally divided among NCLB renewal as is; renewal with major Common Core: It Seemed Like a Good Idea Until It Existed | deutsch29: