Replacing Common Core Costly

Thursday, April 3, 2014Printer-friendly version

Schools and districts have spent the past several years transitioning to the Common Core State Standards - training teachers, developing new assessments and aligning curriculum. The cost of going back or developing new standards would require huge budget commitments in cash-strapped states in addition to placing students and teachers in limbo.  Concerns about the cost of undoing the CCSS have received more attention as debates continue in state houses around the nation. Here are some of the best clips with links, excerpts and quotes:

State: Replacing Common Core costly

By Will Sentell, the New Orleans Advocate

March 30, 2014

"Replacing the Common Core academic standards and assessments would cost the state up to $25 million over the next five years and local school districts millions more, according to an analysis by the state Department of Education dated Friday.

"'In summary, our conclusion is that the financial implications of these pieces of legislation to both the state and local school systems are very significant,' Deputy Superintendent Beth Scioneaux wrote in a two-page memo.

"'In every case, the cost implications reach well into the tens of millions of dollars,' Scioneaux said.

And,

"The internal review, using three scenarios, says the proposed changes would cost the state:

"$25.2 million over the next five years to craft totally new academic standards and assessments, including study, analysis, training and other costs.

"$17.6 million during the same time to return the state to its previous standards and assessments, including updates and field testing.

"$22 million to continue exams that were initially supposed to be a one-time transition during this school year.

"Creating new standards and assessments, which some lawmakers are pushing for, carries the biggest price tag, the review said."

Common Core Hearing Attracts a Crowd

By Martha Dalton, 90.1 WABE Atlanta's NPR Station

March 6, 2014

"The bill also puts tight limits on assessment, data collection, and how Georgia should craft its education standards. That has some educators concerned. State Schools Superintendent John Barge told the committee his office worked with Ligon on the bill, but he couldn't support it.

"'The bill has quite a bit of language that would throw our education system into complete chaos, including the new teacher evaluation system that was placed into state law last year by this assembly, our waiver from No Child Left Behind, and a number of other issues,' Barge said.

"Barge said the bill's testing restrictions could cause the state to lose $1 billion in federal funds."

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Achieve has developed materials to help states, districts, and others understand the organization and content of the standards and the content and evidence base used to support the standards. Visit www.achieve.org/achieving-common-core.

If you find a news clip supportive of the Common Core, please send it to Chad Colby at ccolby@achieve.org.   

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