North Carolina Common Core Overall Comments

Please select the one

role that best describes
you.
Please select any
of the below that
also apply to
you. Please leave any additional comments not addressed in earlier questions here.
autism specialist I believe that the standards themselves are fine. However, I have a great deal of concern about "no child left behind" .
Children who are not capable of learning at the same rate as the general population, not due to motivation but due to
(dis)ability are at a great disadvantage. Our country is not meeting the needs of all it's citizenry. You can hold a bar of 100
up to a person who is capable of 80 at his best, and it will NOT cause that person to rise to the 100 mark. I see regular ed
teachers who are already taxed to their limits trying to educate the masses while the little boy who is in third grade that
reads on a 1st grade level is playing with crayons in the back of the room. Should this be happening? No. Is it happening?
yes.
Con't. - The regular ed teacher is either not able or willing to do what she needs to do to accomodate that child's needs.
He knows it. He knows he's not as "smart" as those other kids. He learns differently and there is a limit to what he is able
to process and understand. The harder our country pushes to increase achievement, the more these children fall behind.
Thank you for your efforts to include ALL children in the education process, however, the education needed by all is not
the education provided for all.
citizen Mathematician
consultant, retired K-
12 Math Specialist,
Past President NCCTM
Curriculum
Coordinator
The reading standards for fiction text is broad in areas. It does not use language that teachers are use to seeing in the
standards that hold them accountable to higher-level thinking skills i.e. predict, infer, connect, question, cause and effect,
main idea. This could lead to teachers teaching literal comprehension skills in which students simply search and find the
answers in the text. It was my understanding that the Core Standards were heavily focused on "thinking skills" instead of
literal comprehension. I'm finding in the draft document that higher level thinking skills are not spelled out enough so that
teachers know they are accountable for teaching higher level thinking, such as, inferring.
Curriculum Facilitator Mathematician
District Director The format is excellent and the progression and scaffolding from year to year is easily seen. Additionally, the emphasis on
all four domains of language (listening, speaking, reading, writing) is well done in that it is separated by goals but
integrated within the standards overall. I would like to see technology brought into the standards earlier. Even
kindergarten children use computers for writing and for discovery. Waiting until later grades is not necessary. While I
realize that it can be done earlier, many will feel that not having it as a part of the earlier standards negates any
responsibility to move in that direction. The writing progression is especially well done in that it clearly indicates that
early writing must be taught and then scaffolded to more complex. The clarity of requirements on conventions
expectations is also a welcome piece.
District Math Leader Mathematician
doctoral candidate,
early childhood
education
grand parent States & local municipalities are better able to administer to the needs of their children than the Federal Govt. The "one
size fits all" theory may be applicable to localities but , surely, not for the entire nation.
Health Education
Specialist & Teacher
Trainer
"I am concerned about the lack of health education included in Common Core State Standards. There is no reference to
health or health education as a subject area. Health is a subject area that must be included in the Common Core State
Standards, and health literacy needs to be one of the content areas addressed. Nationally, here we are "up in arms" about
how to control and reduce health care costs and yet seem completely oblivious to the fact that we are putting so little
time or emphasis on making sure our youth have as a CORE part of their education, Health knowledge and skills. How can
we impact and shape the behaviors of our youth when we are neglecting to educate them to make good lifestyle choices
for fitness, nutrition, mental health, and be smart consumers of health services. It is a no- brainer that Health Literacy is
just as important and English or math literacy and is essential to helping prepare youth for college, the workforce and to
be productive members of society."
home educator There should be NO National Standard for education. These standards should be up to individual states. If states want to
be competitive, they will enact high standards. But creating and approving any kind of National Standard will only allow
the Federal Government more intervention and regulation of local educational systems. The states and school districts
can better address the educational needs of the states. A 62 page booklet of standards is simply ridiculous. It takes all
creativity out of teaching and gives overworked teachers yet another "test"/standard to teach to. This is why publically
educated children rank below private and home educated students.
home school parent It is a grave mistake to put the educational goals of our children in the hands of the state, federal, or global government,
not to mention it is unconstitutional! The far reaching arm of the government has been to the detriment of true education
in this country for going on 75 years. My prayer will be that we the people will wake up, and stop this tyrannical socialist
agenda, and preserve our parental rights to make the decisions about our children's education. YOU DO NOT KNOW
WHAT IS BEST FOR MY CHILDREN!
Home School Parent
and Teacher
The standards that are being set only apply to certain learners within the educational model. There are no provisions for
learners that are auditory or kinesthetic. The overall plan is also a sad dumbing down of the educational model and is ill
preparing students to successfully navigate a growing technological society.
North Carolina Common Core Overall Comments
Home School
Parent/Teacher
While the standards are clear and well-intentioned, I believe it is not the place for any centralized group, be it the federal
government, or any other entity to dictate what must be taught to our children. Parents and local authorities are best
suited to discern and decide what best suits the needs of their children. While I understand that there is emphasis on the
voluntary nature of these standards, the fact remains that the federal government plays a huge role in these regulations
when there are financial or other incentives that are held over the heads of state and local school officials. These
standards seem to be a deliberate attempt to remove the role and responsibility of parents and local school officials to
control the manner of education for their children. As a home school parent/teacher I value my right to make decisions
for my own children's education without the interference from any agency. This is a right that I believe is guaranteed by
our nation's constitution. My children's education and future is my primary concern and responsibility. I do not relinquish
is to anyone else, nor do I look to anyone else to guarantee success.
Homeschool parent I do not support any type of standard of learning legislated by any branch of the US Government or State Government.
We have the right to educate our children in the manner and setting, using the curriculum that we determine is best
aligned with our specific child's abilities, talents, and readiness for learning. I have the freedom and right to do this in my
home with no involvement or intervention from any organization or government representative.
Homeschool
Parent/Teacher
I took my children out of school because of the government telling the states what was suppose to be taught and when. I
had a child that went through all of elementary school as an A-B honor roll student every year and could not spell simple
words, does not know the meaning of simple words or how to use them. Safety is a huge issue at schools now and that
was why we moved from the city to the county schools and it still not safe. My child was bullied on the bus and nothing
was done. The bus driver said she can't see everything. You are trying to make minorities pass tests. Why don't you start
making minorities pay for their own children and take them off government programs and maybe they would stop having
babies. You are going to help them by doing all of these laws. You are hurting the people like me who are middle income
to upper income by penalizing us when the minorities are still going to be below your standards. The government has no
right to tell me what my child or any child is suppose to learn by a certain age.
Every child learns at a different rate an is not always able to learn when there are so many children who don't get the
attention they need at home so they are acting up in class. Take out the mexicans and make them go back to mexico and
let the children go to English speaking schools since this is the U.S.A. and make the blacks stop producing so many babies
and maybe your test scores which are totally stupid will go back up. You can not expect a child to learn anything when all
they are learning in school is how to pass an end of grade test. I think the best education a child can get is from their
parents and church. This government was founded on God and you have left him. I pray he has mercy on the government
of this nation.
Homeschool Teacher Mathematician No additional standards are required for any educators in these areas. Teachers, at home, at private, at public school are
just that teachers. Students in these settings are just that students. Lets allow for more learning and less administrative
functions. These same thoughts apply to all of this groups well intentioned, but ill advised thought process that more
administration, more control of children, will yield better prepared citizens. This is actually quite the contrary. When
parents, private schools, local public schools are squared away, children succeed. No amount of regulation will enhance
student achievement. Please review HSLDAs (Home School Legal Defense Association) Home School Progress Report
2009.
Homeschool Teacher I am opposed to the Common Core State Standards Initiative because many of its proponents call for it to place children
from birth until graduation from college into government run programs and schools. I believe that this threatens parental
rights and ultimately, homeschool freedom. No one cares more about the education of their children than parents. And
unless homeschooling parents have an active and meaningful role in such standards, they shall be opposed by us.
Homeschool Teacher Mathematician I strongly disagree that you should be trying to regulate our rights to school our children in the manner that we see fit.
Most of us homeschool because we disagree with the inflexibility of school standards. If we wanted our children to be
under this sort of supervision, we would just send them to school.
Homeschool teacher &
parent
Homeschooler i do not feel that we should have to teach any one subject or item matter until the CHILD is ready, every child is not the
same and nor will be on the same page with others, this is wrong to assume!! Homeschoolers have rules to follow already
and I do not feel as we need anything else!!!
Homeschooling Mom This whole initiative smacks of yet another attempt by big government to establish a degree of control over families and
children . . . I am absolutely opposed to anything resembling further goverment interference in our lives, on principal.
homeschooling parent Standardizing all education does not take into account that students learn in different ways at different times in their lives.
Children need to be able to develop at their own rate or they will have no passion for learning. Pushing education on our
children does not allow for them to explore their limits and interests.
Instructional Coach Mathematician
K-12
HOMESCHOOLING
PARENT
WHILE I AGREE THAT YOUR "STANDARDS" ARE CLEAR, YOUR METHODOLOGY IS NICE IN "THEORY" BUT A BIGGER ISSUE
NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE YOU GO MAKING ALL THESE STANDARDS. YOUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE OVERCROWDED,
YOUR TEACHERS ARE DOING LESS TEACHING AND MORE "PARENTING"/BABYSITTING WHILE AT WORK WHEN THEY ARE
SUPPOSED TO BE TEACHING! I DOUBT STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO MEET THESE STANDARDS UNLESS THEY ARE
HOMESCHOOLED(WHERE THERE IS PLENTY OF TIME FOR REVIEW AND REAL TIME SPENT ON INSTRUCTION/TEACHING),
OR SOMEWHERE IN AMERICA THERE IS A SCHOOL WITH THE IDEAL STUDENT/TEACHER RATIO, ENOUGH RESOURCES TO
MEET EACH STUDENTS NEEDS, AND THEY ALL COME FROM PERFECT HOMES AND BEHAVE SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE AT
SCHOOL....GOOD LUCK FINDING THIS, AND UNTIL YOU DO, I THINK YOU NEED TO STOP WASTING MONEY AND TIME ON
"THEORIES" AND MORE MONEY/TIME ON DEALING WITH THE "REAL ISSUES" THAT ARE BEHIND AMERICAS FAILING
PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM!
K-12 Math specialist
North Carolina Common Core Overall Comments
K-12 Teacher Mathematician Career readiness is addressed--is it embedded?
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher Examples will need to be given to guide teachers through. I do appreciate how specific the standards are.
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher this seems to be what is already in place as common curricula so why make a new one?
K-12 Teacher Are there any adjustments to the benchmarks for English language learners? i.e.- for the reading and writing if a child can
meet the standards in their native language, but not English, are they "on grade level"? How are children w/ learning or
speech difficulties affected?
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher In the writing part for 1st grade, the types of sentences that are required to write are inappropriate! They can only handle
telling and asking sentences. This needs to be changed. Are English Language Learners taken into consideration? Some
of these standards are not appropriate for them.
K-12 Teacher It is difficult for fourth grade students to focus on three different types of writing with such specific goals. Not appropriate
for fourth grade students.
K-12 Teacher Question: You refer to age appropriate. What does that mean? Who determines this? Are these questions addressed by
persons with a background in child development, and what is appropriate at certain developmental age levels?
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher Mathematician
K-12 Teacher The secondary standards are well done but students in elementary school should stay until they learn to read or the rest
of the standards are useless!!!!
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher Mathematician
K-12 Teacher Mathematician
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher I do not think some of the benchmarks are appropriate for English Learners, for instance the expectation that
Kindergarteners will use common inflectional suffixes in writing. These are not "common" to children entering an English
environment for the first time. Suffixes do not belong in K writing. In a school of predominantly native speakers, it's still
doubtful.
K-12 Teacher Mathematician
North Carolina Common Core Overall Comments
K-12 Teacher Mathematician
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher While I agree with the fact that the standards are acceptable for College and Career Readiness for some students, I do not
agree that these standards cover every kind of learner or every kind of student goal. There is a whole other world of
students who could be prepared for a career when they leave high school without any other education. We are doing a
disservice to a large group of learners who goals do not include college and could be better served with a more
appropriate curriculum.
K-12 Teacher The standards requiring multiple levels of texts and varieties of media to assess will require funding for appropriate levels
of reading and access to various types of media to be authentic.
K-12 Teacher Two questions come to mind. Whatever happened to teaching to mastery? I am not convinced that the spiral curriculum
really works, that it prepares the students for the long term. What looks good in theory does not always work the way it
was expected to. Communism looked good on paper, you know. These students are having so much introduced to them
in a year's time that there is no way that most of them can hope to retain it past the short term to pass a test. Whatever
happened to Piaget, et al? We still teach these theorists, recognized as experts in their field, yet we simply throw all their
findings out the proverbial window when we actually get into the classroom. Are the students, or are they not
developmentally ready for all that we throw at them? I maintain that they are not ready for many of the
concepts/objectives we hold them responsible for learning. Are we just treading water here, or do we really want the
students to learn what they are capable of? Do we really believe students are more intellectually capable than in the past
decades, or have we simply "dumbed down" to make it appear so? If, indeed, we want our young people to walk away from our instruction knowing what we teach, we need to be able to take the time to teach it to mastery. This is a luxury that our pacing guides deny us and our students. Please encourage the states to do away with pacing guides and allow teachers to do our job as we see fit. We did, after all, go to school for several years to be recognized as professionals who really do know what we are about. We are not given the chance to try that on for size though. Someone else is always calling our shots for us. We really do want the best for our students and will work tirelessly to that end. If we can adopt a true national curriculum, we will all feel a bit better about our students being competitive with those fromj outside our own states. Thank you for a valiant effort to make that a reality.
K-12 Teacher I am assuming in the question, "The standards define "what" and "when" content is taught, and avoid describing "how" it
should be taught.", you do not mean which quarter these standards should be taught, but rather which grade level the
standards are taught.
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher These standards are not teacher friendly. A teacher will have to flip through MULTIPLE pages just to see all of the pages
for his/her grade level.
K-12 Teacher I am concerned, however, as to how our students with exceptionalities are going to handle the plethora of writing
assignments. For 9th-10th graders, the standards include narrative writing, argumentative writing, informational writing,
and research writing. These are very different things. Currently, most tenth graders in my state focus on expository
writing for cause and effect and definition essays. For students with exceptionalities, writing can be a very difficult and
daunting task. I really think that trying to teach many different forms of writing will just confuse and frustrate my
students. Someone once said that students with exceptionalities need the gift of time. I just do not believe there is
enough time in a semester to adequately cover all those different types of writing.
I believe that children are persistent, curious and creative; they want and need to make sense of their world. Experience,
knowledge, curiosity, and a sense of wonder are foundations for learning. Teachers are often presented with what to
teach but never how to teach to best meet the needs of a diverse group of students. Perhaps attentions should divert to
the process of teaching rather than the final product we expect from children? Teachers must understand both holistic
learning standards and child development to design effective learning experiences for children. Embedded, sustained
professional development should be infused within and beyond the school year to ensure staff (everyone that works with
children) receives the training and materials necessary to understand the standards, system-mandated curricula, and
evidence-based best practices for instruction. It is critical that staff members be provided time to collectively examine
their practices and beliefs.
This structure provides a context of collegiality, which supports teachers and administrators in improving their practice via
increased reflective/collaborative time. This time should be utilized to learn new curriculum and instructional strategies
and differentiated methods for interacting meaningfully with each child. Clearly, professional development has not even a
blip on their radar screenas I have heard nothing about this subject, have you?? Finally, the very noon of how you
will assess these standards makes me quiver with fear. Too many children are already tested to death; suffer from didactic
instruction as well-meaning teachers teach to the test;are asked to memorize instead of experience meaningful
learning and to sit too long without opportunities to actively engage in learning. Sadly, school has become a frightening
place for many children.
K-12 Teacher Mathematician Do any of you remember when the United States were producing students that were at the top or near the top of the
career fields world wide?! At that time teachers were teaching to the students... not to a test!!!! I have been a classroom
teacher for 11 years and been teaching to one of your stinking test for each and every one of them. While my test scores
have been very good, I continue to see students slipping through the cracks because we are not teaching the to solve real
world problems or individualing education. When did it become so data driven. While I am not saying data is a negative
thing... there becomes a time when enough is enough. Give your teachers some credit. We got into this field because we
wanted to help children become succesful and expand the horizons of each and every child that walks through our
classroom door. Allow us to do that by placing faith in us, allowing us to decide more on what the child needs... we only
see them every single day for 10 months straight.
North Carolina Common Core Overall Comments
This profession was or seems like it would have been absolutely wonderful 20, 30, or more years ago, however, the
government and all of the small groups have taken each and every bit of pleasure out of coming to do this job. I love my
students but I absolutely hate this job. I know my students and what's going on in their lives just like teachers knew
students in the past. My teachers made a difference in my life educationally and personally. I wanted to be one of those
teachers but I don't get a chance to teach to the student only to these continuously changing set of standard courses of
study and end of grade tests. Finally, I never thought of this until this year during a discussion on end of grade tests. I
thought back to when I was in college and realized we had midterms and finals. Finals being like the end of grade tests.
However, the finals were for a class that lasted one semester. We are asking students as young as 3rd grade to take an end
of grade test (final) on 2 semesters worth of material and placing their whole year on those 3 days worth of testing. That
just does not seem fair.
North Carolina Common Core Overall Comments
K-12 Teacher I don't think quotation mark usage should be in third grade. I believe they are a little too young.
K-12 Teacher I found the overall layout of the standards user friendly and coherent. I thought there was a fairly appropriate amount of
content - not too vague, not overwhelmingly too much. As a high school English teacher, the context of authors' lives, and
the historical-environment in which the literature takes place, are important to what I teach. I do not see this sufficiently
addressed in the standards. Most literature involves an element of autobiography, and is inevitably embebbed in a
particular moment in history. Study of the literature cannot be separate from these factors.
K-12 Teacher Mathematician
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher Have concerns about holding ELL kids, especially those new to the country with no literacy background and parents
without literacy backgrounds, being held at the same standards as all other students.
K-12 Teacher I feel the writing standards are too low for the 1-2 grade level. In order for the students to reach the 4th grade writing
level, we need students to write in 3 paragraph format, addressing 3 clear main idea's and details. It is too much for 3rd
grade and 4th to get them at the 6 paragraph level if we do not step up the requirements for 1st and 2nd.
K-12 Teacher Mathematician I do agree that most of the standards are clear and focused. However, the reading standards are very vague. The standards
need to be very, very clear with a little more explanation.
K-12 Teacher The standards do not allow flexibility for strong experiential and play-based approaches to learning that are
developmentally appropriate the the younger grades. In addition, the standards do not lay out a framework for
supporting gifted students.
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher The standards are fine except certain special education students have different needs in their curriculum that is more
important than college English preparation.
K-12 Teacher I am a kindergarten teacher and this is where I have focused my concerns. While most of the standards are in line with
what I already do, I worry that students will be required to "know" or have "mastered" certain language objectives that
may not be developmentally appropriate. While I am a strong advocate for teaching and exposing all my students to these
concepts, some of them are not yet ready for this to be a requirement - especially when it comes to reading. Don't get me
wrong, I do guided reading with my students. Many of them are more than ready, but many others struggle with oral
language (and this is even excluding my English Language Learner). While they benefit immensely from text (written, read,
or oral), they are often not ready to master reading emergent texts. Exposure and practice are one thing, but if mastery is
expected that is often not appropriate. I also refer back to oral language. I find that in the demands of teaching
kindergarten two things are often put aside. The first is oral language - encouraging the students to carry on conversations
(which you do stress as important).
This takes time to allow and develop, something we are often short of. The second is play - which I believe to be the most
important aspect of early childhood education, and the most effective way of teaching. This is how children learn. It
affords them time and opportunity to process, practice, question, apply and understand what they learn. There are too
many cognitive (and of couse social, emotional, and physical) benefits to list here. I worry that teachers already feel
pressured to reduce or, even worse, eliminate play as too time-consuming or not "academic" enough. This is so wrong
and counter-productive. Everyone must remember that young children do not need to be drilled or sit at desks filling out
worksheets. They need to interact with materials and peers. They need to experiment and explore. They need play: play
that is guided and supported, and play that is unstructured as well. There is tons of research and personal experience to
support this.
I think you need to include strong language supporting the use of developmentally appropriate practices for young
children. Although I do not think that it is reasonable to expect all kindergarteners to master all of the listed objectives, I
do think that it is reasonable that these things are introduced - as long as teachers, administrators, and everyone else is
reminded of how to do so properly - and to remember that play should be a priority, not an 'extra'. Thank you
K-12 Teacher Mathematician
K-12 Teacher
North Carolina Common Core Overall Comments
K-12 Teacher I would like to provide comments on the importance of health education in the achievement of the goal of these Common
Core State Standards which is to prepare youth for college and the workforce. Young adults will not succeed
in higher education or in the workforce and society at-large if they are not health literate. The National Health Education
Standards focus on the development of health literacy and support the development of skills essential to language arts.
The National Health Education Standards are skill based and supported by evidence-based strategies. The National Health
Education Standards contribute to student skill development in accessing valid information, analyzing information,
interpersonal communication, decision-making, and goal-setting.
Not only are these essential skills for health literacy they are essential skills for developing an integrated model of
literacy. Page 29 of the Core Standards Document focuses on the human body and the narrative indicates that it
provides an example that uses domain-specific nonfiction titles across grade levels to illustrate how curriculum
designers and classroom teachers can infuse the English language arts block with rich, age-appropriate content knowledge
and vocabulary in history/social studies, science, and the arts. Thus even though a primary health topic is exampled
health as a subject area is not referenced or recognized. As a professional in the PE/Health education discipline I agree
with the Common Core Standards statement that part of the motivation behind the interdisciplinary approach to
literacy promulgated by the Standards is extensive research establishing the need for college- and career-ready students to
be proficient in reading complex informational text independently in a variety of content areas and I urge that
health is one of the content areas that needs to be addressed!
After all, The First Lady has set an ambitious goal for all of us to solve the challenge of childhood obesity in our Nation!
How are children to become Health- minded adults if Health education is NOT a part of the Common Core Standards? Join
the First Lady's challenge and promote healthy lifestyles by including I would like to provide comments on the importance
of health education in the achievement of the goal of these Common Core State Standards which is to prepare
youth for college and the workforce. Young adults will not succeed in higher educaon or in the workforce and society
at-large if they are not health literate. The National Health Education Standards focus on the development of health
literacy and support the development of skills essential to language arts.
The National Health Education Standards are skill based and supported by evidence-based strategies. The National Health
Education Standards contribute to student skill development in accessing valid information, analyzing information,
interpersonal communication, decision-making, and goal-setting. Not only are these essential skills for health literacy
they are essential skills for developing an integrated model of literacy. Page 29 of the Core Standards Document focuses
on the human body and the narrative indicates that it provides an example that uses domain-specific nonfiction
titles across grade levels to illustrate how curriculum designers and classroom teachers can infuse the English language
arts block with rich, age-appropriate content knowledge and vocabulary in history/social studies, science, and the arts.
Thus even though a primary health topic is exampled health as a subject area is not referenced or recognized. As a
professional in the PE/Health education discipline I agree with the Common Core Standards statement that part of the
motivation behind the interdisciplinary approach to literacy promulgated by the Standards is extensive research
establishing the need for college- and career-ready students to be proficient in reading complex informational text
independently in a variety of content areas and we urge that health is one of the content areas that needs to be
addressed! After all, The First Lady has set an ambitious goal for all of us to solve the challenge of childhood obesity
in our Nation! How are children to become Health- minded adults if Health education is NOT a part of the Common Core
Standards? I urge you to join the challenge of lowering the risk of preventable diseases-obesity, and include Health
education as one of the Common Core Standards.
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher Why is it that the media has recognized the need for health education reform but our government has not? Shows like the
Biggest Loser and Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution are huge (pun intended) hits. Please realize that being health literate is
as important to success in college and the workforce at English and Math. It's actually LIFE OR DEATH! Can any other
subject say that? Accomplished Health teachers use cross curricular education that helps reinforce other subject area
standards along with their own. Please do not discount the importance of setting up national standards for this subject
area!
K-12 Teacher I've been an educator since 1988 -- Mostly at the middle school level -- but for the past 5 years at the elementary level as a
reading and math specialist. The only point I really want to make is that we are told to cover WAY TOO MUCH
MATERIAL/STANDARDS every year. My required curriculum fills just about every single day that I have to teach. Where is
the room to reteach?? There are many, many of my students that don't get it in the 3-4 days and if I'm lucky, 8-10 days
the state gives me to teach a topic -- they don't give enough time for ALL the students to LEARN!!!! the topic. Where is the
time to dig deeper into a topic that myself or my students really like and want to extend the curriculum??? Where is the
time for special events and field trips -- if we have these events -- we get behind on all the crap that they force me to cover
each year. STOP ALREADY!!!! considering my ideas.
I'm sick of the syndrome of pushing curriculum down into lower and lower grades just because they don't get it in the
upper grades and some "genius" thought that if they just got some of it earlier -- we at the upper grades wouldn't have
such a hard time. Well, has anyone thought that maybe the curriculum shouldn't have been covered up at that upper
grade level to begin with. I find that many concepts we are forced to teach are not developmentally appropriate for 1/2 of
the students or even higher -- sometimes only 10% of my students are able to get certain concepts. If a concept is to be
pushed down to a lower grade then research needs to back up if it is in fact even appropriate for their brains to grasp. I
find this especially true for math. In summary, CUT BACK on the total number of standards that each grade level is
required to cover, and only give me 3/5 to 2/3 of a year worth of requirements. That gives me up to 1/3 of the year for
reteaching, extending, and real learning by the students. Give ALL!!! students a chance to actually LEARN instead of me
having to stop and "move on" because I have more to cover. (I say cover because I'm not given enough time to really teach it properly and have at least 80% of the class truly LEARN) Thanks your reading and
K-12 Teacher
North Carolina Common Core Overall Comments
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher If the SAT and ACT are not clear predictors of how a student will perform in college then having a standardized curriculum
will certainly not improve things. This will merely muddy the waters. This idea completely ignores students that may be
better suited for a technical school or a trade. It is insulting to gifted students who could do so much more. Why do we
continue to try to make a "one size fits all" educational system? This is just more government intervention and more of
our tax money wasted! How much money has been spent already paying someone to write this "core curriculum"
document? Please stop treating students like cattle that you prod through the gates of inferior public education. For
goodness sake, learn how to light a fire!
K-12 Teacher I am oppossed to National Standards for states. This does not take into account the needs and desires of the many
demographics represented. Individual students needs can best be met by focussing on the diverse needs of the students
and their dmeographics play a role in this. Let the local schools govern their area.
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher The implementation of Common Core State Standards should not occur. I disagree completely with the proposal of all
curriculum standards presented.
K-12 Teacher Mathematician I believe that education control should remain under local/state control, not federal control. I oppose these national
standards since they are a move toward federal control. Parental control and involvement is imperative to success, not
control by the federal government. We need better pay for teachers and fewer education adminstrators telling teachers
what to do. We need to get rid of any labor unions that are more interested in protecting teachers jobs than in educating
students. Principals need to also be given the authority and freedom to easily fire non-performing teachers and likewise to
financially reward good teachers. Private and internet based schools need to be given freedom to find better ways to
education students. The competition is good and the students win with more educational options.
K-12 Teacher I marked strongly disagree on the answer section since there wasn't a general comment section until I reached this point
in the survey. I don't think it should be up to you to decide what I teach my child. I don't want unelected people having
say above me as a parent or the local school boards. I don't want a nationalized curriculum. This is where I feel this is
headed! "It's another attempt by the federal government to centralize educational choices." Perhaps you say, 'Oh this is
voluntary.' But this is the slippery slope that leads to more government. Take a look at Social Security the government as
bungled that. Now they have health care, next it's my child's education!!!!! Keep your hands off!
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher This is national standards, plain and simple. You're taking away the rights of parents to decide what is best for their
children.
K-12 Teacher Mathematician Hasn't the national-level government caused enough problems already - just leave it to the individuals and their states to
figure out what works. As a Homeschooling parent - I just want to be left on my own to teach my children a customized
curriculum that meets their needs to be a model citizen of this country. You (while maybe well intentioned) are
attempting to cookie-cutter individuals that are not robots - they are God's creation. I reject any attempts by the
government to dictate what my children should and should not be taught. We believe in freedom in America - this isn't a
third-world country where the government dictates our every move and thought.
K-12 Teacher The history of education in our country has proven that more requirements thrown at teachers and students do NOTHING
to improve our education system. My concern is that the Common Core States Standards will be used to negate
individuals' constitutional rights. How will private schools and home schoolers be treated under these standards. Will the
standards be given the rule of law? What happens when people's freedoms of belief and religion clash with the
standards? Will constitutional rights be trampled on? I will continue my comments as a homeschooling parent. I do not
follow the exact curriculum of my local school district. My children learn in different ways and on a different schedule
from the public school in our area.
North Carolina Common Core Overall Comments
My children also test extremely high on their ACT tests. We've proven that our method works. Will your "Standards"
interfer with what we are doing? And if so, then I need to ask what is your real agenda? Is it really the betterment of
our country's children or is it in reality another way to control and indoctrinate the children of our country. Most private
schools and home schoolers greatly raise the bar when it comes to testing scores, employability, success socially. Why not
use us and our methods, which we've proven work and work well, to raise the public education bar? Thank you for your
time.
K-12 Teacher Mathematician
K-12 Teacher Mathematician
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher Mathematician The standards say what standard should be taught within each year, but they do not say when to teach an objective within
a year. That is up to each school system.
K-12 Teacher Mathematician We are taking an opportunity to voice our opposition to the Common Core State Standards Initiative. This sounds too
much AGoals 200 which it called for a seamless government program of intervention into the lives of children and families
in this very same manner. This too needs to be defeated and the educational system left alone. Too much is being decided
by the government and not the parents. Please take this into account and thank you for your time.
K-12 Teacher Mathematician
K-12 Teacher While laudable in terms of setting a high standard, I feel that most of these standards are requiring a demonstration of
skills that are not age appropriate.
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher Mathematician
K-12 Teacher Mathematician I am comparing only grades 3-5. On the The College and Career Readiness Standards for Writing, item 6 Grades 3 & 4, the
phrase "use technology" occurs; grade 5, item 6, phrase "use technology including internet" occurs. Please clarify the types
of technology for grades 3 & 4. Thank you.
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher Reading and Math is indeed the key in higher education and preparing the youth for the future. After looking at all the
standards I see no real integration of technology that will help the students career wise. Students learning to select
A/B/C/ and D on various technological software applications does not support students in learning how to truly utilize
basic software application to present the various content of math, reading and real world applications of science,
technology and math. This concept will continue to put us way behind other countries. If students cannot articulate
procedures and elaborate on the whys they have done nothing but memorized strategies and methods with rigor but no
real impact of learning.
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher
K-12 Teacher Mathematician
K-12 Teacher and
Parent
The Common Core State Standards even though currently voluntary seems to set the stage for future mandatory (federal
money contingent) National Standards for the entire United States in the future. This type of move would result in more
standardized tests and the elimination of local school board and parent control over the curriculum of their children. I
believe this would be making a grave mistake concerning our children's education. First of all, it turns upside down the
natural order of who should be raising our children, parents first, then schools, then our government. The continued move
towards National Standards and Federal Government control places the Government as the primary parent over our
children, and erodes parental rights. This cannot be allowed. Second, by removing control from parents and local school
boards, you remove the sense of personal ownership that is necessary for the success of the educational partnership
between parents, local schools, and students.
Third, by making across the board non-differentiated standards and more standardized tests (which are bound to
accompany such standards), you sabotage student learning. According to the most current data, the way to get the most
out of each student is through differentiated learning with the ideal being for each student to have a home school like IGP
and lessons tailored to fit each students strengths, weaknesses, and interests. By establishing and eventually
mandating National Standards you are leading the entire nation in the exact opposite direction and further turning
education into a factory assembly line when it is obvious that not all students and families have the same interests, goals,
or needs. In the end, more government control is bad for parental rights, bad for local schools, and ultimately bad for the
students you are trying to help.
K-12 Teacher/Sch.
Adm./Postsec.
Faculty/Researcher
The organic nature of the English Language lends itself to flexibility, and hence, the new standards should address this
aspect of the language. As America English evolves, it incorporates many words and different sentence structures from all
sectors of the society. This particular aspect should be examined carefully and determined by the proponents whether
those words or sentences will form part of mainstream communication. I have noticed that collective pronouns, past
participals of irregular verbs, and adverbs usage, are out of the dictions of many American English speakers.
North Carolina Common Core Overall Comments
math coach Mathematician
Media Coordinator I am a media coordinator. Someone who in olden days was called a 'school librarian.' In addition to encouraging students
to read for enjoyment and to be active readers, I assist students with their research and introduce them to the latest
technologies (if available in the school district). This is referred to as "Information Skills". What will the role of media
coordinator be under the new curriculum guidelines? While the media coordinator collaborates with all subject teachers,
frequently research lessons are a joint effort between the media coordinator and the English Language Arts teachers. The
media coordinator is primarily the person in a school who introduces students to the various methods of doing research -
print/non-print and all the variations inbetween.
Nowadays it is the media coordinator who teaches:- a. teachers and students how to use the Internet for their research
b. teachers and students about copyright/plagiarism c. teachers and students how to make a Power Point presentation d.
teachers and students how to use cameras/printers/copy machines/faxes/ dvd players/ projectors and any of the other
technologies which are made available e. establishes email accounts for students All the above as well as selecting
materials both print and non-print that are current, aligned with the curriculum, informative and pleasing for both
students and staff.
occupational therapist I am an Occupational Theapist that has been working in the school system for a number of years. I'm very concerned
about when and how handwriting is beening instructed. Handwriting needs to be practiced with consistent letter
formation to develop fluency. The teachers and curriculum are not preparing the students sufficiently. Students are having
difficulty with language arts because some of them are not using efficient automatic movements. Please include the
instruction of handwriting in your standards.
I would like to recommend the following: Expand handwriting inclusion to at least grade 2. Handwriting instruction must
go beyond K-1 for children to begin mastering printing skills. Consider physical and developmental differences in early
childhood. In grades K-2, children must learn the mechanics of writing. They are not ready for the intense focus on
technology, as assumed by the Standards. Focus on legible and functional writing. Writing is about more than just
individual letters. Children need to join letters to form words, and words to form sentences. The current Standards do not
consider legible, functional writing. I sincerely hope you consider my concerns.
Parent Although the language of this draft is easy to read, and it has specifically stated that the Core Standards are to be used as a
"what and when" and not a "how" these objectives are to be met, I am afraid that once this becomes a nationally accepted
standard there will be a major shift toward national testing on these subjects. This would then lead to schools teaching to
the test and not focusing on teaching the children. My son is an academically gifted student and has never been more
bored in school now that all teaching is geared toward "the test". He gets all the objectives and has mastered the
standards set for his grade. So what does he do now? I know the Core Standards objectives stated that some students
would achieve these standards before others and that these students would be given more challenging work and
objectives. How are the teachers going to be able to do this while focusing on those students that have not met the core
objectives?
My son's teachers do not have the time to focus on the students who are academically gifted and instead just pile more
"regular" work on them, which turns out to be "busy work". These students are bored and no longer enjoy going to school
(I have talked with other parents of academically gifted children). If the teachers have to teach to the current test as well
as to the Core Standards, where does that leave those students who have mastered both before the other students? With
cuts in education budgets across the nation hiring additional teachers does not seem to be a viable solution. This falls
under the "how" of the Core Standards and I am afraid more and more students will be forgotten once they have
mastered all the objectives. I think the general objectives of the Core Standards are admirable, HOWEVER, there needs to
be some assurance that a national test will not be implemented in order to avoid "teaching to the test". If it ever comes to
all schools being subject to a national test then there needs to be a national effort to ensure all academically gifted
students are being challenged, not just given more work. This may mean allowing elementary schools to separate students based on learning ability.
Give the students who need more help with the Core Standards and the basic curriculum for their grade level the attention
they need in order to succeed and have the academically gifted students in their own classes where they learn to apply
their curriculum to the Core Standards. Too many students are disengaged by the time they get to high school because
they no longer enjoy learning. I agree that students need to learn the basics but they also need to understand the
importance of what they have learned, not just that "they can pass the test." We need to look at the education models of
those nations whose education standards are superior to the United States and start implementing their methods of
learning. Political Correctness should not be a part of an education model. The Standard Core is a good start, but much
more needs to be done to ensure our students succeed.
Parent The "how" is very important, as are the resources. In essence, you're proposing that all children perform at what is now
considered to be the top ten percent. The expectations are very high; as a former classroom teacher and school librarian
over a 25-year-period, I'm very curious as to how these objectives will be accomplished.
Parent
Parent I do not agree with the K-3 standards. The current research supports an experiential, play-based curriculum for the lower
elementary grades. I feel the standards do not meet young children's social-emotional needs due to their emphasis on
academics at such a young age. I feel it is ridiculous to increase didactic instruction to young children and even suggest
standardized testing. Replacing hands-on learning with this type of instruction will only tire children of learning and
decrease motivation. Young children love to learn but through play, experience and hands-on activities. I question wether
or not the wealth of information on childhood development was considered before these standards were written.
North Carolina Common Core Overall Comments
Parent
Parent Mathematician There is too much expected for the younger grades. Hands on play and learning supported by multitudes of research on
effective learning should be more of a focus to avoid burn- out and low confidence in such young students.
Parent While this focuses on what a child should do it doesn't leave room for a child to foster a love of learning. Children
naturally love and want to learn but putting them in an institution with 25-30 other children, making them sit still and
retain anything is a feat. It also kills the love of learning. How can one love to learn while being forced to pay attention to
stuff deemed highly boring by a child? It also doesn't address how to make sure a child doesn't fall behind. What happens
then if a child falls behind? Will that child get individual attention? Another thing that isn't addressed is how these are
going to be applied. Public, private, homeschools? There is some ambiguity there and there needs to be a clear opt out for
schools, whether public, private or home educated. This is not the answer to the education system. What is wrong isn't so
much *what* is being taught but how, when and the speed as to which it is taught. There is also the question of schools
who do not want to hold a child back educationally because if might effect them "socially". That also needs to be
addressed.
Parent How can certains standards be applied to all children? Are we not human beings? Do we not grow and mature and
different ages? Government run (more like interference in) education has gotten us where we are today. Government
involvement in education should be eradicated. Why not try private enterprise? They have a much better track record
than the government. Why not allow parents to hire private teachers? Who has the child's best interest at heart - really?
The government? I don't think so. Allow some competition in schools through private enterprise and see what happens.
Parent Nationalized curriculum and testing would take away local control over education by allowing unelected bureaucrats, not
parents and local school boards, to decide what subjects should be taught in schools and how. It would also lead to
pressure on homeschooled and private schooled students to use the same national curriculum and take the same national
test as public school students. Although termed voluntary,these standards would not actually be voluntary. This
legislation represents another attempt by the federal government to centralize educational choices. Proponents of the
nationalized standard argue that the standards are voluntary and that they still leave the curriculum decision to local
control. However, national standards are a first step to a national curriculum and national testing.
Certain federal education funds to the states would be contingent on the states adopting the standards, which would place
incredible pressure on the states to accept these national standards. And if some states resisted efforts to adopt the
standards, this could easily lead to calls to make the standards mandatory in the name of being fair to all students.
Furthermore, unelected bureaucrats would be able to choose what they believe every school child should be taught. For
the time being, the actual details of how the courses would be taught would still be left to local control, but the ultimate
decisions of what would be taught would be in the hands of centralized education planners in Washington, D.C. For these
reasons, national standards must be opposed just as national curriculum and testing were opposed.
Parent I am against any nationalized educational curriculum, standards, or testing. Allowing Washington bureaucrats to dictate
what a child needs to know is government going too far. Educational curriculum, standards, or testing decisions should be
made by local government, school boards, and parents. A national curriculum would just be opening the door to national
standards and national testing. I am strongly opposed to more national government controls over education.
Parent
Parent We do not need more government intervention in education. This is a waste of tax dollars! What makes you think
another curriculum will improve education? The schools already spend half their time "teaching to the test" for end of
grade levels, and the other half of the time testing all through the year -- all in an effort to make the school look good,
regardless of whether the children are actually learning to think, which is what education should be about.
Parent You conveniently leave out questions whether these National Standards are a good idea. I am strongly opposed to these
standards. Home Educators consistently out perform government school children by several grade levels. your one size
fits all approach does not work. Centralization leads to control and sensorship and usurpation of parental roles. It is
continuing with the same philosophy that has lead us from first to almost fiftieth among civilized countries; our education
system is a joke, this is the wrong direction.
Parent As a parent, I am strongly opposed to these National Standards. Nationalized curriculum and testing would take away
local control over education by allowing unelected bureaucrats, not parents and local school boards, to decide what
subjects should be taught in schools and how. It would also lead to pressure on homeschooled and private schooled
students to use the same national curriculum and take the same national test as public school students.
Parent What makes you think making education of our young a cookie-cutter process will produce well-educated and well-
adjusted members of society?
Parent My concern is not that the standards are clear or appropriate. My concern is that the evidence has not shown that
national or state standards make any statistically significant short- or long-term difference in student achievement. What
does make a statistically significant difference is the level of parental involvement and control in the school and over the
education of the child. That's why charter schools and home schools have done so well - because the parents (from single
or two-parent families, it doesn't matter) have more control over the curriculum, methods and goals of the school.
Standards, although well-intentioned, tend to wrest control of goals and methods away from local control and parental
authority and can be used to squelch innovative ideas that come out of charter schools or home schools.
North Carolina Common Core Overall Comments
Parent I do not believe that having "Common Core Standards" across the nation will be beneficial to our educational system. The
education of my children is very important to me; however, every child learns very differently - at different rates and by
different methods. By leaving education in the hands of the individual states, led by concerned parents and teachers, we
can meet the needs of individual children and groups of children. National standards will only try to force children to
conform to molds into which they may or may not fit. Parents and teachers need to be free to educate students in ways
that they will have optimal learning, rather than having to try to "teach to the test" by specific deadlines. The nationally
standardized tests and state standards of learning that we have currently are enough to make sure that students are well-
prepared for college and jobs beyond high school.
I do believe that the standards of our public schools need to improve, but this will not be accomplished by imposing more
rules and regulations upon them from the national level. School systems need to concentrate more on the quality of
education they are offering by being familiar with the needs of their own population and meeting those needs through
creative teachers and curriculums. They need to study what makes successful schools work, and try to tailor those
programs to their own needs. The more time they have to spend trying to fill out paperwork and meet nationally-imposed
scores and standards, the less time they will have to concentrate on real education. Please do not try to impose a
"Common Core State Standards Initiative" on our schools, teachers, parents, & students.
Parent If the Federal government wants to suggest tot he states standards that might be used, that is OK. I do NOT want the
Federal government taking over what has been the state's role now or in the future. The one thing that can be done to
dramatically improve a student's progress in education is involvement of their parents. It is not about money it as about
involvement! Stay out of our homes.
Parent We are opposed to any government program of intervention into the lives of children and families.
Parent
Parent
Parent It is my belief that any form of Nationalized Standards intrudes on parental rights as well as the rights of children to
develop according to their own personally designed schedule...I believe national educational standards in any form will not
render the effects to which it has proposed. It is another well-researched, well-thought out tool, if you will, that is yet
another attempt to fix the US educational system, which will again prove to be a distraction rather than a success. What
of those "normal" children who don't develop along the "normal" "national" timeline that has been developed from
faceless statistics? And what of those children who are blessed with gifts OTHER than what is determined by a committee,
albeit highly educated and well-intentioned members, as to what ultimately defines success?
While I deeply respect the time, efforts and motivations of this proposal, I believe it is highly misguided, and will serve
more to harm parental rights and the rights of American children, and children educated in America to develop and pursue
their individuality...a forgotten premise that the founders of this great country so richly esteemed. When did American
education start undermining the individual rather than prizing him...or her? I truly believe a new name to increased
government-regulated education is not the answer...it hasn't worked in the past, so there is no evidence or shred of hope
that it would work now or in the future. Why can't we find our way OUT of the dark box that we're in...oh, I forgot,
individuality is frowned upon, even from the point of toddlerhood (!!!!) What kind of society are we creating? These
ideas and proposal of standards from no doubt (!) brilliant minds are amazing! But they are amazingly dangerous.
Parent I do not agree with purpose of the Common Core State Standards Initiative as a whole. This is not what we want for our
students as a parent or as an educator.
Parent I am against standards of any kind. We believe that children learn in different ways. And one standard does NOT fit all. Our
government is heading toward socialism. Are you happy about that?
Parent
Parent It is my personal opinion that making national standards will NOT work any more than what has been done in the past.
There are several issues at hand here, one of which is that many of the youngest teachers are not experts in English, yet
they are trying to teach English to their young charges. It simply won't work. It is the school system that is flawed--not
the curriculum. Schools are not run properly in many ways. Please do not put forth the effort for nationalized curriculum-
-it will only penalize those truly proficient teachers who teach "outside the box" and need not to be scrutinized for their
styles.
If you want to nationalize anything, then put all teachers through strick testing in their field of expertise and place them
only in that expertise for teaching. I have friends who are teachers. One, who was originally trained in Home
Economics, was transferred to English, when Home Ed. was cut, then on to History, when English was reorganized, then on
into counseling when they didn't know what to do with her. This is just one example. Good teachers are key, period.
It's not curriculum! Don't pass a national curriculum. Pushing for excellent teachers, and getting off the tenure program,
would enhance learning at every level!
Parent We are ABSOLUTELY opposed to any national curriculum or other "standards" imposed on the States by the Federal
Government. As a long time homeschooling family, with 2 very successful graduates and one in high school currently, we
have done a MUCH better job educating our children than any state school would have, or could have done. We do not
feel it is Constitutional for the Federal Government to impose any standards that the States do not feel is in the best
interest of it's citizens, nor any standards upon parents who wish to exercise their rights to educate their children in the
way they deem fit and appropriate. Homeschooling has produced phenomenally successful students, and colleges and
universities actively seek them out. We do NOT need the government's help to do this, financially or in the structure of our
curriculum or in any other way.
North Carolina Common Core Overall Comments
Parent As a parent of four I strongly disagree with any more state and certainly federal "standards" for the children to have to
reach. In my experience teachers have to teach to make sure the students score a certain way on standardized tests. What
happened to teaching for mastery of a skill? If you truly want to make sure children are ready to compete in the global job
market then come along side teachers and ask what do you need?. Don't throw more "goals" for them to have to reach
with a number of students in a fixed amount of time. This just sounds like more government intrusion and relinquishing of
state's rights. Standards set the bar for failure when it comes to education. If you really are trying to help ready children
for today's global market then stop making standards to limit the teacher's ability to teach for actually learning instead of
meeting a standard. Children need to learn how to learn and not just retain information to put on a test.
Parent Most the questions I answered N/A because they do not correspond to my issues. I think the government is already too
involved in individual rights and parent's rights. Our children would be better served if they were left in the care and
guidance of their parents longer and education delayed. God called parents to educate their children not government.
And no teacher is going to care for and love that individual child more than the parent. Maybe that child would just be in
daycare all day anyway, maybe not. I think our children would be better served if more mothers were encouraged to stay
at home and train their children themselves (at least while they are young) rather than become career women and leave
their children in the charge of others especially in the charge of a government run program where that child is just a
number. Again I say that government is already dictating too much of our lives. We are truly becoming a Socialist nation.
Parent Mathematician Our family believes that national standards threatens parental rights and ultimately, our freedom. Shouldn't the parent
and local school districts have the right to decide what to teach a child at what point in their life? Don't we want what is
best for our children? A large institution (federal government) deciding for us does not allow for our individual uniqueness
and liberty. Our Tenth Amendment says, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor
prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." No where in the Constitution is
the United States given the power to educate or mandate education requirements.
Parent Mathematician Standards do not make good education. Let the local school boards decide on the curriculum and instruction. The
government is too involved with education - and should stay out of additional unhelpful, unnecessary standards. You are
limiting the schools freedom and ability to succeed by adding useless standards and paperwork. No Child Left Behind has
done nothing to improve education, only increase bureaucracy. Stay out of education - you don't belong there. Do what
you need to do on the state level with roads, laws, etc - and stay out of education. There is already enough bureaucracy,
and waste of funds to meet the requirements set by the government.
Parent My problem is that research shows that children learn differently. You can't possibly come up with a program that teaches
all children. I know the thought is most children. Education is much more than you advancing your career as a contributor
to this one-sided nonsense. I pulled my children out of the school system because of this type of one-sided thinking. Do I
speak out fear? Yes, I don't want you who don't know my children telling me how to teach them. I ask is it really about the
children, then go on TV and prove yourselves and your agendas in a live debate and let America decide. Is there any
research or evidence-based practice that supports this line of thinking?
Parent The states should determine educational goals/standards for themselves. A 'concerted' national effort to dictate
standards is another name for national control of education which is not a constitutional power delegated to the federal
government but to the states. I am not in favor of the implementation of these standards.
Parent I strongly disagree with our government telling us what is good for our children to know. I would like to leave that
decision to higher authorities within our state and to the collective group of teachers in our state. Also, I would like to see
individual teachers in each state having more of a say as to what our children should be learning. I am against ANY
national control of what school children should be learning. These type of government programs only further "dummy-
down" our schools(like the no child left behind act) which in my opinion are failing miserably compared to other countries.
I am sorry to say that I do not have faith in our government to act in the best interest for all children and in most cases the
decision should lie within each classroom, school, and district. Thank you.
Parent Children are all different. All mature on different levels. Assigning too many standards on a broad basis only hurts
individual children. Standards should be chosen locally by parents and school boards, not by a group of educators who do
not know the children. Anytime the government tries to regulate standards over a wide area, it ends up in disaster and
that will happen in this area as well.
Parent As a certified K-6 teacher (and parent of 2 middle schoolers), I have found written standards like these to be a hindrance in
the classroom. They are vague and any teacher could create lessons that "satisfy" the standards. Good teachers will
create lessons that address these standards regardless of what the administrations says to do, and bad teachers can
construct something that would suffice even though the lesson may be poorly constructed and implemented. Good
teachers get so "wrapped up" in the standards, they can't focus on what the kids really need. If administrators spent more
time in the classroom observing each teacher without a "standards book" they would have a much better idea of who is a
good teacher and who isn't.
Parent The stated goal of this initiative is to create a national network of common core academic standards. This initiative, if
implemented, would constitute a drastic governmental intervention into the lives of students and families. The ultimate
goal of its proponents is to place children, from birth until graduation from college, into government-run programs and
schools. This as a serious threat to parental rights and ultimately, educational freedom. When parental rights and
educational freedom are removed from academia, the result is bondage to the state, stifled initiative, lower quality
education and an amoral society unaware that God is the standard bearer for all of life, not just education. I am,
therefore, adamantly opposed to this initiative and am working to keep it from being implemented.
North Carolina Common Core Overall Comments
Parent I strongly opposes this initiative or any other national standards.
Parent While I can see that having clear requirements for children lets them know what they need to do, I don't agree with silly
things like "core standards" or "standardised tests" because they leave out too many variables and don't meet the
student's full needs. It just seems as though the educational system is trying to implement a cookie cutter factory of
students similar to the way Russia educated their children in the past. It just seems as though we are trying to make every
child fit a mold rather than work with a child where that child is at. Don't get me wrong, I don't mean a system where
there are no boundaries and guidelines, you have to have guidelines.
It just seems that people are making these "standards" and "rules" the goal rather than something to go by to guide. "No
child left behind" is a prime example of this. While it's real nice and Sam Waltonish, it seems to have been taken to the
extreme in it's implementation. I will give a prime example of this. A friend of mine, her first year of teaching was sent a
little boy to her kindergarden class and told he must be passed on to first grade. The child was new to the country, as was
his parents, and knew no English. I mean no offense but how moronic was that? Not to even mention that this was unfair
to the teacher, it was so unfair to the child. People don't seem to be able to use any sort of judgement with these
"standards."
Parent It doesn't matter what objectives you set, children learn at different rates and have different gifts. Setting these initiatives
will not make our education better and better equip children for college it will only cause frustration and make teachers
jobs more difficult. Children are individuals, if you want education to improve then teachers need the flexibility to teach
children at their own level and not some predetermined level. I strongly oppose this initiative.
Parent I am opposed to the Core State Standards Initiative.
Parent I do not think the state should decide this because they leave god out of everything and there are children who are still
going to be let behind. You need to fix school by teavhing a child by how they learn the best. by sight by hands on by
hearing or all three. I think that if you would put students with the samr teacher every yeae they would learn more
because when they change teachers they have to learn a whole new way of learning. This is why kids are left behind.
Parent As a homeschooling parent, I find the development of these standards concerning for several reasons. I have spent many
years in the education arena, teaching music in addition to homeschooling my own children, and find the diversity of
ability and aptitude in children to lend itself better to an education developed around the child's needs and gifts, pacing
the education process to accommodate these. I have already seen the disastrous consequences of teachers resorting to
"teaching the test" on classrooms and child development and fear that implementing these standards will, paradoxically,
further deteriorate the education situation in this country. Furthermore, the enforcement of these standards will result in
more government bureaucracy and a limiting of the freedom of private schools and home schools to educate their
students as they see fit. Private and home schools in the United States should not be subjected to outside expectations
that will hamper successful educations systems (verifiable by years of test results) in a country that prides itself on
personal freedom and responsibility.
Parent I believe that this threatens parental rights and ultimately, homeschool freedom. These "standards" call for a seamless
government program of intervention into the lives of children and families. Parents, not federal or state officials, should
make child-rearing decisions for their children.
Parent Children are not cookies and don't ever come in a cookie cutter package. Standards for education needs to be based on
the child not a pre-package idea.
Parent I strongly disagree on ANY and EVERYTHING to do with this Common Core Standard. I think it is a way for the government
to take control over the local schools and parents. I will NOT agree with anything to do with this standard. All kids DO NOT
fit into the same box.
Parent Mathematician
Parent As a parent I want less government input on the education of my child. I was my child's "first and best teacher." We
already have our children so pushed and stressed in their current educational settings. We have sent them a clear messege
that Learning is not as important as "learning what you need to know for the test." I strongly oppose any further legislation
that limits the rights of a parent to choose the best education option or timetable for their child.
Parent This program is another way for the goverment and the state to control our children's lives. This program is another step
that the goverment is taking to take over parental rights. The parents should choose the curriculum for their own children
not the goverment. As a parent I strongly oppose this. The goverment does not know best but the parent does.
Parent i think children cannot be all taught by one method or set to one standard. not all student fit into your little box
Parent/Secondary
Educator/PhD
Candidate in Education
Thank you for your time. All of these standards are normative and do not reflect the struggle of educators and students.
Your survey questions assume that clarity of language equals consensus. You can specify targets in a clear, apparently
unbiased language without being actually unbiased or reasonable. My daughter is in first grade and, according to the
standards set within this document, she should be able to grasp and articulate an interpretation of the story "Cinderella"
that reflects some kind of quantifiable measure. The fact is, the beauty of "Cinderella" is that it's interpretation is always
open to interrogation and reassessment. Standardized curriculum, as well as the unstated assessment of these curricula,
does not address the lived experience of the students in our schools, nor does it reflect any recognition of their own
perspectives in interpreting language and literature. This is a grave failing of the published standards. Again, thank you for
the opportunity to speak.
Postsecondary
Faculty/Researcher
While the language of the document is clear, and while the standards offered are admirable, I wonder to what extent
concerns of cultural literacy are served by the standards and their attendant reading lists.
Postsecondary
Faculty/Researcher
Mathematician
North Carolina Common Core Overall Comments
Postsecondary
Faculty/Researcher
While there is little with which to "disagree" in these standards, I wish to register a few concerns. As I read through the
standards, I was struck by the following: 1) the difficulty of capturing the nature of learning and learners on a year-by-
year/level-by-level basis; it was hard for me to "place" the many students I know in these determined categories as each of
them bridges the levels on any one day and based on the standards themselves--i.e., one day the student "gets it," the
next day does not; the student may be strong in one category, woefully lacking in another; 2) the lack of emphasis on film,
video as a text--given the current flood of the visual in society and students' lives--i.e., through commercial venues (film,
tv, etc.) as well as digital creations of "film" (for YouTube, blogs, wikis, etc.)--we need to attend to both the "reading" and
creation of digital texts and how that skill crosses all the ELA areas;
3) the continuation/assumption that schooling and learning are assembly lines--i.e., linear as opposed to
recursive/circular; 4) the singularly "traditional" nature of the materials cited as exemplary for the standards; I could have
written the same list 15-20 years ago, in most cases--is this really what we want to both appeal to the contemporary
learner and to create lifelong learners for the 21st century? Thank you for this opportunity to respond.
Postsecondary
Faculty/Researcher
Preschool teacher and
Social worker
I would like to see these standards discarded and have standards created that are appropriate for young children, based
on play and hands-on learning with a strong focus on social and emotional development. Thanks you.
Professional
DEvelopment Birth-
third grade
This entire thing is EXTREMELY DEvelopmetnally INapproriate
Public Health Educator I think it is important ot have health education in the achievement of the goal of these Common Core State Standards
which is to prepare youth for college and the workforce. Young adults will not succeed in higher education or in
the workforce and society at-large if they are not health literate. The National Health Education Standards focus on the
development of health literacy and support the development of skills essential to language arts. The National Health
Education Standards are skill based and supported by evidence-based strategies. The National Health Education Standards
contribute to student skill development in accessing valid information, analyzing information, interpersonal
communication, decision-making, and goal-setting. Not only are these essential skills for health literacy they are
essential skills for developing an integrated model of literacy.
Page 29 of the Core Standards Document focuses on the human body and the narrative indicates that it provides
an example that uses domain-specific nonfiction titles across grade levels to illustrate how curriculum designers and
classroom teachers can infuse the English language arts block with rich, age-appropriate content knowledge and
vocabulary in history/social studies, science, and the arts. Thus even though a primary health topic is exampled
health as a subject area is not even referenced. Professionals in the health education discipline agree with the
Common Core Standards statement that part of the motivation behind the interdisciplinary approach to literacy
promulgated by the Standards is extensive research establishing the need for college- and career-ready students to be
proficient in reading complex informational text independently in a variety of content areas and I urge that health is
one of the content areas that needs to be addressed!
Related Services,
Occupational Therapy
Dear Sir or Madam: The Standards as they are now written fail to address the core skills of handwriting, which are
foundational to expository writing, reading, and math. In fact, the CCSSO only mentions handwriting twice within its entire
English/Language Arts standards. If the Standards are adopted in their current form, they will fail to address important
developmental and physical skills that children need to do a task as simple as writing their own name. At the very least,
the Standards should: 1.Expand handwring inclusion to at least grade 2. Handwring instrucon must go beyond K-1
for children to begin mastering prinng skills. 2.Consider physical and developmental dierences in early childhood. In
grades K-2, children must learn the mechanics of writing. They are not ready for the intense focus on technology, as
assumed by the Standards.
3. Focus on legible and functional writing. Writing is about more than just individual letters. Children need to join letters to
form words, and words to form sentences. The current Standards do not consider legible, functional writing. We need to a
make sure that the Common Core State Standards make handwriting an essential part of the learning process.
Retired 9 - 12 Math
and Science Teacher
The online format was very difficult to read. Very small.
retired NYC H.S.
English teacher
As a retired English teacher and lover of the English language, I WISH all students were able to attain these standards! The
goals are admirable, of course, and I hope that more and more students are able to accomplish them. I like the fact that
teachers may use individual methods to reach these goals. They seem to me to be reasonable and useful.
retired NYC H.S. math
teacher
School
Administrator/Leader
Mathematician
School
Administrator/Leader
My comments are concerning not the standards themselves but the standardization of the nation as a whole. We are part
of a very active homeschooling community and our state is very pro homeschool. We chose to homeschool our children
to provide them with the opportunity to work according to their abilities as well as our family's individual needs. Putting
eveyone into a one size fits all situation will be very detrimental to our ability to do this. Also the call for even more
drastic intervention in the lives of students and families (such as placing children from birth until graduation from college
into government run programs and schools) is something we strongly oppose. We believe that this threatens parental
rights and ultimately, homeschool freedom.
School
Administrator/Leader
Any attempt to create a nation-wide required standard is faulty. When a "few" attempt to create a standard for "all",
confusion occurs.
School
Administrator/Leader
Mathematician
North Carolina Common Core Overall Comments
Science Curriculum
Specialist
6 8 Informational Texts: Literary Non-fiction page 52 All are Social Studies selections even thought scientific is
included at the top of the page as a text type. Page 49 What is grade appropriate general academic vocabulary? How
will grade appropriate general academic vocabulary be determined? Who determined this? Is it content specific?
Page 58 Writing standards - Are our science teachers teacher equipped to provide instruction on literary components
in information writing? ? Do teachers that are certified in Science but not Language Arts have the background knowledge
to provide instruction in literacy, especially with writing and reading? Only taught in Langauage Arts or in Science class?
Not clear.
Social Studies
Specialist
I am concerned that your survey and your "standards" focus on social studies as if it were a "marginal" content. In this
country, we cannot develop citizens without social studies as a focus of instruction. I believe the national standards do not
equate this important function as "essential" with the strong emphasis on reading and mathematics.
special education
teacher
The standards are appropriate for those students actually preparing for college but for the special ed students I teach, who
can't read, can't write even a basic sentence and can't even do basic math will be totally lost in these classes. These
students require the functional curriculum that is going to help them be successful in life and perhaps live on their own.
Taking these students away from classes that are appropriate for them is going to set them up for failure.
State Level Consultant
K-3
I have selected Agree in regards to each of the College and Career Readiness Standards listed above...with an
understanding that these are goals to work TOWARD not accomplish in the Elementary grades. I believe that the
narratives "Notes" on each of the pages about the specific content are excellent.
Student As a 2010 graduating student from college, I do not like the sound of where our country is going. I myself was home-
schooled k-12th grade and have benefited greatly from it. Had I been placed in a government run program, or any other
classroom, or public school setting, I would not be graduating with an A.A.S. degree in IT this year. Requiring children to
be placed in a government run program, or public school, takes away their rights, and their parents rights, to determine
what kind of environment the child would learn best in. As stated before, I myself was home-schooled, and I would not
change it for the world. I learned so much more than I would have being in a public school classroom, along with all the
distractions on a public school campus. Observers, including teachers, have noted that most students who were home-
schooled excel far beyond those who attended a public school for their grade school and high school education. Test
grades, life-skills, and critical thinking skills are higher in home-schooled students.
Although I understand the thinking behind the layout of having the standards in spans (K-2, 3-5, etc), this will make it
cumbersome for teachers who are teaching a specific grade level to view all of their standards.. I understand the
importance of seeing how the standards build upon each other, but suggest that a K-12 continuum of the standards be
placed in an appendix and the document be separated by grade level.