Common Core Back Under Fire In Nashville

Proposed Legislation to terminate or pause Tennessee’s participation in Common Core, the recently instigated educational standards, was filed last week in both the House and Senate. Some House and Senate Republicans have been vocal regarding their position on, what some view as, a step toward more federal intervention in local education. Tennessee is one of around four dozen states that adopted the Common Core standards and the implementation of the Common Core program began in earnest this school year. At its most basic, the Common Core standards are designed to provide continuity in education across the Nation, so that students in transit have a commonality in educational programs. Its proponents contend that it will ramp up the critical thinking skills in students and allow for a deeper understanding of subject matter. The program has come under fire recently from parent groups, concerned about the changes in testing and drops in student grades due to the implementation of the Common Core curriculum.

Locally, the Department of Education rolled out the first stages of the Common Core curriculum this school year and gave notice to parents and students that, as students adjust to new requirements, grades may temporarily dip. Director of Jefferson County Schools, Dr. Charles Edmonds, contends that there are some benefits to having a common educational standard, including continuity of programs. Though there is a transition time that can be challenging for students and educators, Director Edmonds is a proponent of a more common sense approach to education that incorporates the Common Core standards with other teaching strategies. A long time educator, Dr. Edmonds has seen many previously endorsed programs come and go, however he views cross state cooperation as a positive step for education. Educators are lining up on both sides of the Common Core issue and there is a real fear in the educational community that, while students adjust to a drastically different approach to teaching and testing, Tennessee teachers are on the evaluation tight rope, with merit becoming tied to compensation. Test scores are more important than ever before for Tennessee educators and some Legislators are looking to disassociate the new PARCC student tests from employment issues, such as retention, evaluation and compensation.

Currently, there are three companion bills that were introduced this week in the House and Senate. One bill, sponsored by Representative Shelia Butt of District 64 and Senator Frank Niceley of District 8 ( which includes Jefferson County), calls for the immediate withdrawal from the PARCC and Common Core Standards. Another bill, sponsored by Representative Womick of District 34 and Senator Campfield of District 7, puts the Common Core Standards on hold, beyond what was implemented as of June 30, 2013, until approval by the general assembly. A third bill, by Representative Bailey of District 43 and Senator Niceley, prohibits the use of the results of first year common core student assessments to impact employment decisions like compensation, termination, retention or promotion. Niceley, alone, has introduced a fourth bill that requires the Department of Education to reimburse local systems for the costs associated with implementing the Common Core Standards and the ongoing costs associated with the program and its testing.