What’s your Standard?
Marcus Winters, writing in today’s Los Angeles Times, argues that with a patchwork of states devising their own state standards for curriculum and assessments, there has been a gradual yet inarguable decline in the quality of standards and, by extension, the quality of education that students are receiving. As the Common Core Initiative receives greater scrutiny for its approach toward greater uniform standards across all nations, Mr. Winters op-ed today touches on some interesting points on the state-defined standards debate.
Worse, standards are declining. A recent federal study noted that 15 states lowered at least one of their proficiency standards in math and reading between 2005 and 2007.
Although OdysseyWare does not explicitly endorse one approach over another, we believe support strong standards stressing all that is needed for students to be well-prepared for what comes after grade school, be it a job, college, or something else. That is why our curriculum continues to adapt and to meet each state’s needs, consistently rising to the challenges of ever-changing standards. In this sense, our online-based curriculum can quickly adapt to changing standards while static materials — such as textbooks — remain stale and behind the times.