Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn provisionally adopted the Common Core standards in English language arts (ELA) and math. The adoption is provisional largely because Supt. Dorn must present a report on the standards to the Legislature in January 2011.
Relatedly, the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, an education think tank based in Washington, D.C. and Ohio, released a report today grading the ELA and math standards in all 50 states, along with the Common Core. The Common Core standards in ELA received a B+, and the math standards an A-. Washington earned a C in ELA and an A in math. Fordham labeled the difference between Washington’s math standards and the Common Core as “too close to call,” giving Washington credit for very detailed and explicit standards while trumpeting the Common Core’s excellence in presenting fractions and inclusion of trigonometry.
Based on this assessment of our standards, it looks as if Washington (students and state) have something to gain from full adoption of the Common Core.
