The CCSS and Politics as a Blood Sport

The CCSS and Politics as a Blood Sport

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are playing a part in politics as a blood sport in the State of Washington. The blood sport politics of the CCSS most likely displays itself as a similar blood sport in other states that have or are considering the adoption and implementation of the CCSS.

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction’s Analysis and Recommendations includes a five year cost estimation total of $182.6 million for adopting and implementing the CCSS. The estimated costs are split between the state and local district level costs, with the state level costs estimated at $17.1 million, or about 9.4%, and the district level costs estimated at $165.5 million, about 91.6%.

Figure it will cost half the total plus some* to implement the CCSS math standards, so the amount may approach $100 million. That’s just for the math. The plus some* is due to the intensive professional development it will require to help teachers understand the CCSS math as a result of the way they are worded. Never mind, these standards lower the bar for math education in comparison to WA’s excellent current math standards that were developed, adopted, and implemented at great cost in 2008.

With proposed budget cuts and belt tightening, could the $100 for CCSS math implementation be better spent? Will a vote for the CCSS be a vote against women, children, immigrants, a clean environment, efficient transportation, and safe streets? You decide. Here are some questions to ask your neighbors, friends, co-workers, business associates, parents, and yourself. Oh, yes, and don’t forget to ask you legislators.

Would it be better to lower math education standards or to decrease class size by 3%?

Would it be better to lower math education standards and kick thousands of kindergarten students out of class?

Would it be better to lower math education standards and suspend bonuses for outstanding teachers?

Would it be better to lower math education standards and eliminate the Children’s Health Program which provides medical coverage for 27,000 children whose citizenship has not been documented?

Would it be better to lower math education standards and reduce in-home Medicaid personal care hours to 45,000 individuals?

Would it be better to lower math education standards and eliminate supervision of 293 sexually violent predators civilly commited at theSpecial Commitment Center at McNeil Island?

Would it be better to lower math education standards and eliminate funding for oil spill prevention and preparedness?

Would it be better to lower math education standards and turn 454 criminals from Walla Walla loose on the public?

Please contact your WA State legislators and members of the House Education Committee and ask them to support legislation that will repeal or delay the adoption and implementation of the CCSS and to vote no on any legislation to adopt and implement the CCSS.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics: Analysis and Recommendations Report to the Legislature January 2011

Proposed 2011-13 Budget & Policy Highlights Transforming Washington’s Budget Office of the Governor December 2010

Mark VanHorne wrote the 8 questions that generated the idea for this blog. The ideas and information he provided are a major contribution here. Thank you, Mark.