Governor Jan Brewer signed an Executive Order reaffirming Arizona’s constitutional right to set its own education policies. According to the Governor’s Office, the Order reiterates her “longstanding belief in the importance of local control in education.”
Arizona adopted Common Core standards in 2010. The public has urged the legislature and the Department of Education to reject Common Core; however, Superintendent of Education John Huppenthal came out this week calling for a change of name rather than a rejection of the curriculum.
The Executive Order requires that executive agencies refer to the standards, adopted in 2010, as Arizona’s College and Career Ready Standards and encourages citizens and education stakeholders to do the same.
According to the Arizona Department of Education, “Common Core prepares Arizona students to be college and/or career ready.”
From the ADE website:
What are Arizona’s Common Core Standards (ACCS)?
Arizona joined with 46 other states to create the next generation of K-12 standards in English language arts and literacy in history/social studies, science, technical subjects, and mathematics. These standards provide a consistent framework to prepare students for success in college and/or the 21st century workplace. The Arizona State Board of Education adopted ACCS on June 28, 2010.
About the Standards
The standards were developed in collaboration with teachers, education leaders, and experts, to provide a clear and consistent framework to prepare our children for college and the workforce. This state-led effort was coordinated by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO).
The standards are informed by the highest, most effective models from states across the country and countries around the world, and provide teachers and parents with a common understanding of what students are expected to learn.
Since the time Common Core was first developed, it has been rejected by education experts across the country. The witness for Arizona in the TUSD Mexican American Studies class battle, Dr. Sandra Stosky, has come out strongly against Common Core. Despite this, Huppenthal and his team continue their commitment to Common Core and argue that it is up to local school boards to use the curriculum responsibly.
The Executive Order directs that no standards or curriculum be imposed on Arizona by the federal government, and that the power to set and define learning standards for students in Arizona’s public schools remain within the State Board of Education. While there is no substantial funding reason to adopt the standards, they were developed in part by a benefactor of many Arizona lawmakers.
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