Foundation for Excellence in Education CEO Patricia Levesque recently spoke to the News Service of Florida about education reform, American Exceptionalism and the movement to raise academic standards in American classrooms. In case you missed it, here is a key excerpt:
“…the Common Core State Standards movement is a very conservative movement. It is actually a great example of federalism at work. It’s where state chiefs and state governors got together and said, ‘Let’s do something in common that will help us all in our individual states.’ And so they got together, over years, and developed a common set of high standards in reading and math, and that became the state standards movement…Conservatives have always been champions of high standards and American Exceptionalism.“
As the movement to raise academic standards gains momentum in states across the nation, take a moment to read the rest of the latest on what people are really saying about this initiative.
What They Are Really Saying About Higher Standards:
New Hampshire Union Leader: Why Conservatives Should Support Common Core Standards: “We see the Common Core as a great conservative victory. The standards are solid and traditional. They don’t give into moral relativism, blame-America-first, or so many other liberal nostrums that have infected our public schools. At the end of the day, the facts matter. We hope that New Hampshire will be guided by them and stay the course with the Common Core. It’s really a victory for everyone.” (Chester E. Finn Jr. and Michael J. Petrilli, “Why Conservatives Should Support Common Core Standards,” New Hampshire Union Leader, 4/9/13)
Wyoming Business Alliance: Championing Education Reform and Higher Standards: “…There remains the alarming fact that way too many students entering community colleges and our university need to take remedial courses. This becomes an added expense for parents and students alike. It is not just a Wyoming education quality and results problem; it’s a problem nationwide. Common Core relates to standards, course work and what students should know after each grade level. It also is a means for education success comparisons between states. Championing why Wyoming should strive to be America’s best education state is an opportunity that beckons the Superintendent, the legislature, business and the general public.” (Bill Schilling, “Champion Education: Focus on Being the Best,” Laramie Boomerang, 7/10/13)
Louisiana Association of Business and Industry: “Why Louisiana Schools Need the Common Core Standards”: “In order for Louisiana to be able to compete in the business world – both nationally and globally – we need to make dramatic changes in how and what Louisiana students are taught. One of the best ways to improve Louisiana’s schools is to fully implement the ‘Common Core,’ a set of student achievement benchmarks – not a curriculum – developed by the National Governor’s Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers.” (Brigitte T. Nieland, “Why Louisiana schools need the Common Core standards,” The Times-Picayune, 7/5/13)
