"Common Core" explained

As noted last week, the backlash against Common Core State Standards (CCSS) has begun. A look back to two years ago may provide some insight into the current groundswell against the CCSS.

In 2010-2011, Marianne Iksic and I examined the English portion of the national standards. We shared the same understanding – the state standards were as good as, if not better than, the CCSS. The only major differences in the national curriculum were the use of traditional grammar (labeling by parts of speech), an emphasis on argumentative writing, the incorporation of art with literature, a heavy stress on...