Every parent wants their child to succeed, which is why you obsess over test scores and school rankings . But the institution of the Common Core Standards has changed the education game since you were rocking your Cross Colors back in the day. These new standards may have you scratching your head, especially if you've tried to help your second grader with her math homework. This is why there are things to know about Common Core to help your child through those nightly assignments.
According to the official website, the Common Core State Standards were launched in 2009 to establish guidelines for what children should know in math and English from kindergarten through grade 12. The standards were developed by teachers and experts from around the country to help prepare students for college and entry-level careers. Rather than being a daily blueprint for teachers to use in the classroom, the standards are meant to guide teachers as they develop their own curriculum.
Although the standards were developed to help students, the Common Core is not without it's critics. According to Education Week, some believe that the federal government has no business telling the states what to teach in their classrooms. Others believe that the standards are unfair, and that lessons should be tailored to meet the individual needs of the students and their communities. As of now, 43 states and four territories have adopted the Common Core standards.
You can learn more about how the standards are implemented where you live by visiting the Standards in Your State page of the Common Core website. And you can also check out what some education experts have to say about the Common Core, and how it will affect your family.