In Switzerland, 12th-graders write essays analyzing John Fitzgerald Kennedy”s proclamation that led to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
In Ontario, Canada, eighth-graders create musical compositions and learn Italian musical terms.
In Finland, fifth- and sixth-graders analyze how human life has changed since the invention of writing.
In Hong Kong, fourth-graders visit an artist”s studio and study Picasso.
Lynne Munson, president and executive director of Common Core, makes these observations in introducing the study, “Why We”re Behind: What Top Nations Teach Their Students But We Don”t.”
After years of lagging behind the national average in education, the state of Mississippi is moving toward curriculum to make its students competitive on the global scale.
Mississippi is one of 24 states in a consortium moving toward use of Common Core State Standards. Common Core researches what works for countries outperforming the U.S. and infuses international benchmarks and career readiness into its K-12 standards.
About half of the states in the U.S. have agreed to adopt Common Core standards. And all but Hawaii and Alaska agreed to consider the Common Core State Standards, said Trecina Green, director of curriculum and instruction for the Mississippi Department of Education.
“Our students will have a level playing field, not just in terms of how they are compared to students in other states. This will also allow them to compete globally,” Green said.
Many think No Child Left Behind requirements already have evened that playing field. But each state develops its own tests and its own method of accountability measures.
“Most people do not know that the No Child Left Behind standards are unique to each state,” said Judy Couey, superintendent of Starkville schools. “What you have is a compilation of different mandates.”
Under Common Core standards, “All states will be teaching the same curriculum,” said Robin Miles, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction for West Point School District.
At the district level, Common Core Standards “will require that teachers be retooled to teach students to solve problems, communicate effectively, adapt to change, work in teams and analyze and conceptualize,” said Martha Liddell, director of elementary curriculum and grant programs for Columbus Municipal School District.
The common standards “will be anchored in college and career readiness,” Miles said. The standards also include international benchmarks, Couey added.
“I think it”s a move toward a more global learning and the way they are learning (in countries with top education ),” Couey said.
In addition to college prep and international benchmarks, sample curriculum Couey has reviewed includes workforce training and industry programs.
Area districts already are beginning to phase the new benchmarks into the classroom.
“What we don”t want is to wait to year three or four and all of a sudden we move from Mississippi standards to national standards,” Couey said.
“Columbus schools are well on their way to meeting the rigor and demands of the 21st century learners with our current International Baccalaureate … programs as well as the focus we have on contextual and inquiry learning in Columbus magnet schools,” Liddell said.
The Common Core State Standards program is an initiative of the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers. In addition to leveling the playing field, Green expects the program to save states time and money on curriculum development and revision.
The new standards likely will make their debut the 2014-2015 school year.
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