Implementation+of+Common+Core+by+Geary+White

Topic Discussion

The implementation of Common Core in Muscogee County is being adapted now. Common Core Georgia Performance Standards (CCGPS) is a set of standards that is observed throughout the state in every public school. The newest adaptation is an attempt to match other states in the United States to have a common core and schedule so that all states are teaching the same standards at the same grade level. The implementation of CCGPS will ensure that every student in every community across the United States will have the same educational opportunities. The common standard also gives each educator a blue-print to the path of each student to achieve to the best of their abilities.

Teachers are encouraged to teach the standards provided by the Georgia Department of Education. Educators are encouraged to post these standards ([], []), and to use professional learning webinars for continued education:
 * 1) []
 * 2) []
 * 3) []

For the high school math students across the county, it will be phased in with next year’s freshmen class (Class of 2016). Each subsequent year another class will be added until all students are participating in CCGPS. The teachers will be given packets and view Webinars to educate them on the changes in the curriculum. The standards that will be taught will be the same, but will be grouped differently and taught in a different order. Some teachers will be asked to teach different subjects or different grades or both.

The implantation of the Common Core will put this county, the State of Georgia, and 46 other states teaching the same subjects at the same levels. This will make comparisons of students easier and more accurate. Students transferring from one school, school district, or state an easier transition. This will be a particular advantage to Muscogee County as well as other military towns as long as troops are transferred from base to base every two to four years.

Trend or Issue?

The main concern of educators is the welfare of the students. Everyone agrres that the curriculum that students are taught is a main concern of all schools involved. The other question is whether the frequent change in the courriculum turns this into and trend trying to find a better solution or better testing results to make the state education system seem better.


 * The creation of the national Common Core State Standards for Mathematics is a coolaboration between mathematic teachers. It is a guide for educators to use to inform them of the framework and to teaching tools to better educate our students ([]).
 * According to the The Bridge to Common Core ([]), the CCSS institutes common texts, requires 6-12th graders to aquire discipline, and provides a staircase to follow that leads to a secondary education.
 * The CCSS will bring a lot of states and counties together to teach the same standards on the same schedule. This will also include the Department of Defense schools as well as Washington D.C., and 194 schools in 12 countries Curriculum Matters ([]).
 * Some critics believe that the CCSS is an overreach of the Fedral Government into State's Rights and their local schools. The argument is that the cost is too much for the states to overcome, that the standards are vague and are lower of than those of other companies (Walker, //The Fondry//).
 * School systems across the country have been practicing and comparing the new standards with the old. In New York City, teachers are concerned if the students will be prepared for the next grade level because of the change in schedule of the curriculum Getting to the Core ([|http://www.gothamschools.org]).

Annotated Bibliography

__Georgia Department of Education.__ The Common Core State Standards Initiative. Ooctober 2011. __Gewertz, Catherine__ (2012). Curriculum Matters. //Education Week.// May 22, 2012.
 * Gives the standards as well as teacher training for continuing education.
 * This is an article about the vast masses adopting CCSS, The masses include 46 states, as well as, 194 Department of Defense schools in 12 countries.

__Gewertz, Catherine__ (2011). Educators Need Training to Understand Common Standards, Experts Warn. //Education Week.// June 20, 2011.
 * School systems need to take advantage of previous states that have already started implementing the new system. Teachers can 'beg, borrow, and steal'(Kim Cason, Ed. S, CSU) ideas from fellow educators ideas and methods to better benefit their sudents.

__Gotham Schools__ May 22, 2012. 'Getting to the Core'
 * This article points out that the new 5th grade standards used to be taught in the 6th grade, therefore the new sixth grade students would be lost from the get-go. The new CCSS promotes advanced concepts that build on one another. Problems could arise that if a student either missed a class or didn't get it, That student would be lost. This would in turn, cause more stress and work for our overworked and underpaid teachers.

__Porter, Andrew. McMaken, Jennifer. Hwang, Jun. Yang, Rui.__ (2011). Common Core Standards: The New U.S. Intended Curriculum. //Educational Researcher.// April 2011 40: 103-116.
 * This article discusses the Common Core standards for English arts and mathematics for many of the states in the United States. The new standards are compared with old system and as well as other countries. There are reports from various teachers across the country.

__Walter, Evan.__ (2012). Common Core Math Standards Fail to Add Up. //The Fondry.// April 23, 2012.
 * Mr. Walter believes that the federal govt. is overreaching into local schools juristiction. That the rising costs could reach 16 billion to tax payers on the state level. He believes that the standards are vague and that the language is hazy. He reports that the standards are lower than those of other countries.


 * Proposal to address this issue may be downloaded here: [[file:White_EDCI6158_proposal.doc]][[file:Topic Discussion.docx]]**