Common Core State Standards

Common Core State Standards
3/11/2010 1:15 PM

The Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSSI), established to develop rigorous standards to identify what children across our nation should know and be able to do, has released its draft standards for K-12 education for public review and comment. The National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) has supported this initiative since its inception (scroll to the position statement below) and now looks forward to reviewing the proposed standards.

As part of the CCSSI, the draft K-12 standards are now available for public comment. These draft standards, developed in collaboration with teachers, school administrators, and experts, seek to provide a clear and consistent framework to prepare our children for college and the workforce.

Governors and state commissioners of education from 48 states, 2 territories and the District of Columbia committed to developing a common core of state standards in English-language arts and mathematics for grades K-12. This is a state-led effort coordinated by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO).

The NGA Center and CCSSO have received feedback from national organizations representing, but not limited to teachers, postsecondary education (including community colleges), civil rights groups, English language learners, and students with disabilities. These standards are now open for public comment until Friday, April 2.

NAESP_Statement_on_Common_Academic_Standards.pdf
NAESP Position Statement in Support of Common Academic Standards

In the opinion of MESPA Executive Director P. Fred Storti

Submitted to NAESP Principals' Office blog on March 10, 2010: If we are to be competitive in the world economy, we need to get the USA on the same page with common core academic standards. If you go to other developed countries like Norway, Sweden, Australia, UK the European Countries, Canada and many more you will find common standards that have helped them FOCUS as a nation on what really matters.

I have been a proponent of common high quality standards for many years and want to make sure that we have rigor in the common standards. The common standards should also involve high quality early childhood standards that become seamless with K-12.

Opponents would say we would lose local control. States and LEAs will still have the opportunity to augment these core standards. If we don't come together as a country around high quality common standards we will lose international competitiveness!

To review Core Standards

Visit the CCSSI site.

MESPA members invited to weigh in!

NAESP seeks your feedback as they prepare to submit comments on the draft K-12 Common Standards. Please review the drafted standards (link to your left) and post your comments on the NAESP Principals' Office blog.

You also may submit comments via e-mail to advocacy@naesp.org.

Please submit your comments to NAESP by Friday, March 26 to help inform our formal response to the Common Core State Standards Initiative.

Mission: The Minnesota Elementary School Principals' Association is dedicated to promoting and improving education for children and youth, strengthening the role as educational leader for elementary and middle level principals, and collaborating with partners in education to assist in achieving these goals.

Leading schools toward excellence through the MESPA vision to be the premiere resource for preparing today's principals for tomorrow and a strong leading voice for public education.

Minnesota Elementary School Principals' Association

1667 North Snelling Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108

651.999.7310 MN toll free 800.642.6807

Fax: 651.999.7311 E-mail: mespa@mespa.net