Back to School: What is Common Core?
As Common Core tests are implemented, some draw comparison to health care rollout
It's school time and there are some big changes to the way that students will now be tested.
As the new Common Core standards and tests are being implemented, some are comparing it to the health care rollout.
Whether its reading, writing or arithmetic, the fundamentals of how children learn is undergoing a huge change.
"What parents need to understand is that if implemented faithfully, the Common Core standards are going to have a big impact in their children's classroom," said Michael Petrilli of the Thomas P. Fordham Institute.
What is Common Core?
"Common Core is a set of standards that talk about what children should learn in reading in math, in grades K-12. That means if your state signs on to it, you're going to see changes in how they learn reading and math," said Rick Hess of the American Enterprise Institute.
More than 40 states are in the process of implementing the new benchmarks and tests. Proponents like Carmel Martin claim they're more rigorous and encourage critical thinking.
"It's helping children to learn how to be learners and to understand what they're doing, not just be able to recite a bunch of facts," said Martin.
Common Core was initially launched by governors and state school officers in 2009 and promoted by the Obama administration.
"We've convinced nearly every state in the country to raise their standards for teaching and learning - the first time that's happened in a generation," said Obama.
Still, the big push is now getting push back. Indiana, Oklahoma and South Carolina recently dropped the standards and others may follow suit. Despite field testing around the country, critics complain the Common Core tests are too complicated and plagued with technical problems - drawing comparisons to the botched health care rollout.
Pennsylvania adopted its own version of Common Core last November.