Origins and Implications of Common Core Standards for Student Achievement in Georgia Dr. Sheneka M. Williams University of Georgia

Origins of Common Core in Georgia Many reforms have come and gone since the US was declared “a nation at risk” in 1983 Georgia adopted in 2010 as 40 plus other states did the same

What Common Core Is and Is Not Is… –A national set of goals for student learning –A result of collaboration between National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO)

What Common Core Is and Is Not Is Not… –A national curriculum –A mandate proposed by the current Administration

What Research Says Students of color and students living in poverty are performing two-three grade levels higher than they were in the 1990s However, performance for students at the middle and top performance levels have remained steady Students of color and students living in poverty are beginning to show smaller gains

What Research Says Standards neither make or break an educational system However, national standards should reduce variation between high performing states and lower performing states

Implications for Georgia Common Core should place students in Georgia on a more level playing field with students in Massachusetts Increased global competitiveness Adoption vs. implementation

References Elmore, Richard (2004). School reform from the inside out: Policy, practice, and performance. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Education Publishing Group. Fullan, Michael (2007.) The new meaning of educational change, 4 th ed. New York: Teachers College Press. Loveless, Tom. (2014). How well are American students learning? The Brookings Institute. Retrieved October 21, 2014, from Mathis, W. J. (2010). The “Common Core” Standards Initiative: An Effective Reform Tool? Boulder and Tempe: Education and the Public Interest Center & Education Policy Research Unit. Retrieved October, 20, 2014 fromhttp://epicpolicy.org/publication/common-core-standardshttp://epicpolicy.org/publication/common-core-standards Petrilli, Michael & Brickman, Michael (September 14, 2014). Common core: Georgia should not retreat now. Retrieved on October 19, 2014 from the Atlanta Journal and Constitution.