Impact of the Common Core Standards
By: Derrick Meador (2013)
By: Derrick Meador (2013)
Administrators
The Common Core Standards are going to place a huge amount of responsibility on the superintendents and principals. It is advised to have a plan for success in place, which includes rich professional development for the teachers, as well as logistically preparing them in areas of technology and curriculum. Those administrators who do not prepare properly for the new Common Core Standards, and who’s students do not perform adequately under the new policy, will most likely lose their jobs.
Teachers
The Common Core Standards embrace Blooms Taxonomy and require higher-order thinking skills, drastically changing the current state standards for language arts and mathematics. Components of language arts, such as reading and writing, will be integrated into all disciplines, with all subject area teachers responsible for the acquisition of literacy skills. Teachers are advised to begin gradually phasing in Common Core components into their lessons as soon as possible to prepare themselves and their students for the changes to come in the 2014-2015 school year.
Specialists
Reading specialists and intervention specialists will be increasingly prevalent in schools, supplying much needed individualized instruction for students struggling in reading or math. Using one-on-one or small group instruction with a specialist has proven successful in elevating scores and getting students back on level. With the high stakes of the Common Core Standards, schools will need to hire many more specialists to assist struggling students, who with only a little extra instruction can get back on level.
Students
The Common Core Standards were designed to better prepare students for life after high school, whether they immediately enter the workforce or if they plan on attending college. These new standards will require more time outside of school, which may be a difficult transition for students involved in multiple sports, clubs, or after-school activities. It is estimated that “it will probably take a full cycle of students (meaning 12-13 years) before we can realistically see the true impact of the Common Core Standards on students”(Meador 1).
Parents
In order for the Common Core Standards to be successful, parental involvement will need to increase. Studies have shown that as the child gets older, the level of parental involvement in their academics decreases. However, with these new standards, students are going to be challenged like never before and will need the guidance and support of their parents. They will need their parents to push them to do their best, checking to make sure they have their homework done every night, and making sure they are properly prepared and helping them study for exams.
Politicians
The Common Core Standards will allow for accurate competition between states. All states have been operating under their own set of academic standards, and although they are all very similar, they all have sufficient differences that make comparison between test scores difficult and/or invalid.
Higher Education
Students educated through the Common Core Standards will be better prepared for a college curriculum and a future rich in technological advancements. It is also believed that the need for remedial math and language arts classes at the college level will decrease dramatically.
Community Members
In order for success in the Common Core Standards, community members need to be involved and willing to support and invest in the education of the community’s children. “The ultimate purpose of the Common Core Standards is to adequately prepare students for higher education and to enable them to compete in a global economy. A community fully invested in education will reap rewards. That investment may come through donating time, money, or services, but communities that value and support education will thrive economically”(Meador 2).
Work Cited
Impact of the Common Core Standards, Derrick Meador, About.com Guide ‘Teaching’