Review Of Draft Standards

The Fordham Institute's expert reviewers have analyzed the draft Common Core K-12 education standards (made public on March 10) according to rigorous criteria. Their analyses lead to a grade of A- for the draft mathematics standards and B for those in English language arts. The analysis can be found here.

From the review:

On the math side, our reviewers found clear, rigorous standards that set forth most
of the essential content that students in grades K-12 must master. While some
tweaks are needed—particularly at the high-school level—this draft “embodies
internationally-competitive expectations for students in mathematics” and earns an
impressive A-.1

On the English language arts (ELA) side, the standards are also strong, though in
need of a few more adjustments. While NGA and CCSSO have made clear from
the outset that these expectations would concentrate on the reading, writing, speaking,
and listening skills that students should master to be ready to succeed in college
and the workforce, the standards-drafters have also woven in clear recommendations
about the level of reading that young people should be doing, the sorts of
fiction and non-fiction books they ought to read, and some of the essential content
they’ll need to master to attain these skills. As written, the standards earn a solid B.

With some clarification of vague spots and the addition of more specific references
to essential content, these standards will be top-notch expectations that help push
the rigor of reading (and writing, etc.) instruction across the country.