Proposed learning standards for math, science, English, and social studies are being both praised and denounced. Eight work groups drafted the proposed recommendations and submitted them to the State Board of Education on October 1.
Opponents of the recommendations said some standards are disjointed and too much like common core. The state currently follows standards based on common core, but a 2014 bill required the development of new standards.
Parkway School District Assistant Superintendent Lisa Meredith said some of the standards should be celebrated while others are a concern.
“The proposal includes more standards and sub standards for some of the content areas and grade levels. Federal mandates require testing for breadth and depth of standards,” said Meredith. “Additional standards cause a risk of additional testing for our already over tested students.”
Perry Dunkison served on one of the science work groups and said he’s proud of the work that’s been done.
“We spent a lot of time going through this. We’ve been given a year. This group met numerous times,” said Dunkison. “We met on weekends and school days. Truly, anything we felt was something that could be incorporated or removed, we’ve already accomplished that.”
Julie Thomas said not everyone is going to agree on how public school students should be taught.
“Our founding fathers were ten times more educated than most of us today and they knew that local control from parents and teachers working together was the best outcome for children,” said Thomas.
The State Board of Education will decide in March whether to approve the recommendations.
A survey is available for the public, and a formal comment period on the recommendations is from November 2-December 2. You can click here to participate.