Common Core

I am very interested in how the Common Core standards are being implemented in Pennsylvania. If you are not familiar with them, the Common Core State Standards Initiative is an "educational initiative in the United States that details what K-12 students should know in English language arts and mathematics as the end of each grade…and seeks to establish consistent standards across the states as well as ensure that students graduating from high school are prepared to enter credit-bearing courses at two- or four-year college programs or to enter the workforce." (Wikipedia)  In other words, in most states (43 states so far, I think), there are specific subjects a student will now have to demonstrate working knowledge of in order to graduate high school. (See the Common Core website to read about it yourself www.corestandards.org)

 In Pennsylvania, the Common Core has led the Keystone exams, which means my daughter,a member of the high school graduating class of 2017, is in the first class in Pennsylvania that has to pass state-wide tests in Biology, Algebra and Literature in order to receive her high school diploma. I am not concerned for my daughter, who is a traditionally good student and who passed the Biology and Algebra exams as a Freshman and who will be taking the Literature test as a Sophomore. I am, however, interested in how these Keystone exams are going to be passed by kids with learning challenges.

 I have been told by parents of high school students with learning needs that their children are allowed extra time and can take the exams as many times as they want, but that some of them are not getting any closer to passing after multiple attempts. This raises other questions for me. Are these students not going to receive their high school diplomas if they never pass? Will the state have to offer two degrees: one "with Keystone exams passed" and "without Keystones passed"? How is this going to affect the future prospects for the students who don't pass? Also, how much educational time is being wasted helping these children pass these exams?

For the record, I certainly do not object to the idea of "core standards." I believe that many students are going off to college without fundamental abilities and knowledge, and that the educational system in the United States, which performs far below many other first world countries, needs a serious over-haul. I just think there needs to be a little more flexibility in how it is going to be implemented for students with  learning needs (not to mention English Language Learners). One size fits all does not work here.