Governor McCrory passes the ‘Common Core review bill’

Much debate has swirled over whether Common Core is good or bad. Yesterday Gov. Pat McCrory turned on his heels and decided it was not what N.C. students need (though he’s previously been a supporter) and now the curriculum goes under the microscope. The governor passed a Common Core review bill.

The governor, along with N.C. state house and senate, wants public school students in North Carolina to have the highest of education curricula, and are not sure that Common Core is providing that. Now an 11-person advisory panel to be appointed will review the curriculum standards that will be presented to the State Board of Education. They can make recommendations for change and also to keep some of the standards of Common Core. All must be approved by the BOE before any curriculum changes happen in schools. The review of standards will begin this fall, and be ongoing until decisions can be made, finalized, and then a plan put in place for implementation.

I have two questions: 1. Who is making up this advisory committee? According to a letter from MeckEd, the panel will include four people appointed by the state Senate, four chosen by the House, two members of the BOE, and one person selected by the governor. I hope it’s a mix of educators. I hope (really hope) it’s not just politician appointed “experts.”

Second question: How can you determine the value of a new system/standards/curriculum without giving it time to evolve. Two years into a new curriculum is not enough time to see any results, as mentioned in the opinion column in The Charlotte Observer. In our fast-paced world, seems no one has time to settle into anything before they feel change is needed if it doesn’t immediately fit. And all to often the changes are being made for the wrong reasons (i.e. political!).

I only wish the best for my child’s education options in North Carolina, and hopefully only good will result of the “Common Core review bill.” I also hope someone takes time to review standardized tests while they are at it. That seems to me to be a big part of the frustration and problem with all standards these days.