News--Forty-eight states are already on-board for national standards (public school, history, highest)

[lhpartridge]

Governors, state school superintendents propose common academic standards

By Nick Anderson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, March 11, 2010

Maryland and several other states are pushing rapidly toward adoption of new academic standards proposed Wednesday for English and math, adding momentum to the campaign to establish common expectations for public school students across the country.

washingtonpost.com

[golfgal]

So, does this mean that states that already have high standards and good schools will have to lower those so other states can catch up?

[mcatp]

I hope it will be like other federal standards that it can be more strict but can't be any lower than this.

[Ceece]

This would actually be a good idea. Once these standards are in place then individual states could supplement with whatever special curriculum or particular leanings they like. Texas, I'm talking to you.

[HappyTexan]

Well we see how well NCLB worked out..a Federal mandate.
I don't put much faith in national standards as they would have to take both the highest and lowest into consideration and come out somewhere in the middle.

I hear there's also $$$ strings attached as well, just like NCLB.
Regulating by punishment doesn't work well. Threaten to hold back money unless your kids pass just makes everyone lower the bar.

Better to have a carrot approach. Reward those that improve but don't punish them if they don't.

[bostontopueblo]

I hope Massachusetts doesn't accept these standards as the standards Mass has now as far above what the Federal standards will call for.

[HappyTexan]

Originally Posted by bostontopueblo

I hope Massachusetts doesn't accept these standards as the standards Mass has now as far above what the Federal standards will call for.

48 states are onboard with this. Just Texas and Alaska are the holdouts

[TelecasterBlues]

Originally Posted by HappyTexan

48 states are onboard with this. Just Texas and Alaska are the holdouts

I'll say this much...for better or worse, Texas is very "Texan" when it comes to their education system. They stick to their guns and definately walk to their own beat in terms of procedures, what is expected, and how how everything is handled. They really don't quite seem to care what other states are doing and are extremely particular. My PA certificate can get me into just about anywhere as far as recertification goes..but in Texas I have to take two entrance exams and jump through a few other hoops despite having actually majored in education and completing a much more rigorous certification process and MUCH more time in the classroom for PA certification. Trying to get everybody on board for this will be a bit of a challenge, but national standards would help a lot in my oppinion...that's if it's done correctly.

[HappyTexan]

Originally Posted by TelecasterBlues

I'll say this much...for better or worse, Texas is very "Texan" when it comes to their education system. They stick to their guns and definately walk to their own beat in terms of procedures, what is expected, and how how everything is handled. They really don't quite seem to care what other states are doing and are extremely particular. My PA certificate can get me into just about anywhere as far as recertification goes..but in Texas I have to take two entrance exams and jump through a few other hoops despite having actually majored in education and completing a much more rigorous certification process and MUCH more time in the classroom for PA certification. Trying to get everybody on board for this will be a bit of a challenge, but national standards would help a lot in my oppinion...that's if it's done correctly.

And we have an example that has history..NCLB.
What makes you think this national standards will work.
What history does the Fed have of bettering something by interference ?
Exactly what PROBLEM here do they think they are fixing ?
Many times the government throws bandaids at problems and never actually fixes them.

[Dr. Foosball]

It doesn't surprise me in the least that Texas is the holdout. They seem to think quite highly of themselves down there.

As a high school teacher, I think having national standards is a wonderful idea. Just as others have stated, minimum national standards do not affect the higher-level states like Massachusetts, but it could have a big impact on lower level states like Mississippi and, yes, my own state.