Common Core State Standards Research Paper

According to the Home School Legal Defense Agencies’ Common Core timeline, “[in] June 1, 2009, the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) initiative is launched, and 48 states sign a memorandum committing to the development of standards.” In 2009 and 10, the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers organized committees to write Common Core. A special validation committee also met in 2010 to give a final review of the standards. At present, “Forty-two states [and] the District of Columbia...have adopted the Common Core State Standards.” reports the Common Core website. In 2011, two assessment companies wrote national test for the states participating in Common Core. According to Truth in American Education, Virginia, Texas, Nebraska and Minnesota never took part in these national tests.

Through the supervision of the NGA and CCSSO, many professionals wrote and critiqued the standards. According to the Official Common Core website, governors, teachers and curriculum and testing professionals wrote and reviewed the standards. Though more field-testing is needed, the Common Core writers affirm their standards will prepare students for college and career through more rigorous standards and achievement tests. Common Core writers and most validation committee members agree the standards will compete with other international standards. The Home School Legal Defense Agency, Pioneer Institute, Family Research Council and many other reputable organizations and professionals oppose the view that Common Core is state-led. HSLDA’s Common Core Timeline states, “[in] April 14, 2010 Stage II applications for [Race To The Top] funding requiring states to commit to adopt “a common set of K–12 standards by August 2, 2010” are