Interesting article!

[Relinda]

I don't have the time to read the entire thing right now, but if YOU DO, please leave your thoughts;

BILLINGS - A national study of Montana's state curriculum standards for kindergarten through grade 12 released Wednesday gave the state an F grade for both its English and math curriculum standards.

Montana's English language arts standards "are among the worst in the country," the study's three authors wrote.

Findings on Montana's math standards were equally woeful.

"Montana's standards are so sparse and poorly written as to supply very little of the essential content of mathematics. The almost complete lack of specific content ... renders these standards of little use in guiding mathematics education."

The study was conducted by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based, nonprofit think tank that works to promote educational excellence.

Denise Juneau, state superintendent of schools, cried foul on the study's findings.

"What this report does not do is (examine the state's) Essential Learning Expectations," she said Wednesday.

State standards are organized so that generalities appear first and then each grade is broken down into Essential Leaning Expectations - the requirements expected of each grade level, she said.

By not looking at the state's Essential Leaning Expectations, the Fordham Institute missed examining almost all of Montana's standards, she said.

Pointing again and again to the lack of specifics, the study roundly criticizes the state for the lack of direction it gives to school districts regarding what should be taught both for math and language arts competency.

"The state fails to provide any guidance about the quality or complexity of texts that students should read from grade to grade," the study found with regards to language arts.

Juneau said specifics like that aren't included because the Office of Public Instruction lists that material in its Essential Learning Expectations.

In fact, she said, Montana students on National Assessment of Educational Progress tests consistently score above the national average for reading skills - an average 225 score for Montana fourth-graders versus an average 221 score for fourth-graders nationwide. Eighth graders scored equally well.

Math scores for Montana fourth- and eighth-graders also land above the national average, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress website.

"Our students generally score well," Juneau said.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress does not show scores for high school graduates. However, a look at ACT college entrance exam scores shows Montana graduates land just above the national average there as well. Montana's average is currently 21.2. The national average is 21.1.

The Fordham Institute's study was designed to show how state curriculum standards compare to the national Common Core State Standards Initiative, an effort by a majority of the states in the nation to adopt uniform curriculum standards.

Juneau said both she and Gov. Brian Schweitzer signed onto the Common Core State Standards Initiative last year.

"We're open to this idea," she said. "We're not opposed to national standards."

[Mingo]

A few thoughts (and pardon me if I seem brusque - the toe pain is maximum tonight and my language skills are just flagging...)

1. Who bothers to "grade" State Standards? Honestly, I looked up Indiana's state standards once and couldn't make heads or tails out of them. They aren't written to be read by anyone not inculcuated in educationalese.

2. But you would think if you were going to "grade" a state's standards, you might figure out HOW the state uses the materials and if there was anything else. I mean .

3. The scariest stuff was at the bottom of the article (where it could be cut-off editorially, as needed, by the newspaper). I find it terrifying to think that STATES are "signing on" to an effort to "adopt uniform curriculum standards." Think about it.

Currently, education is a states' rights issue - each individual state sets it's own standards and structure for the education of its students. The Federal government can't just "walk in" and say "teach this" - at least not yet. Yes, they can subtly influence it (through NCLB funds and standards), but state's could still say "no."

If STATES are agreeing, which is their right, to national uniform curriculum standards, they are essentially setting the entire country up for federally controlled education. Because today the states agree that it's in the best interest of all to have similar standards; tomorrow the Feds come in and say, "Well, since you're all in agreement, why don't you let those who know best run the whole show?" Next thing you know, the country runs the school system, and thereby controls what individuals (aka constituents) are taught, exposed to, and believe (by exposure). Orwell wasn't too far out of line, really....

This issue is a for me. Sorry!

[Mingo]

OK, it's clear I can be a bit cynical about our government and its agenda. But, I'm not alone! Here's an article about this same topic from HSLDA. It includes a map so you can see which states have signed-on to this national plan for education, and which have not.

Yes, I'm writing our governer - and one of the gubernatorial candidates.

[Midwest Mama]

Well, I see from Mingo's map that along with the majority, we've adopted it. Will be interesting to see how that plays out.

This is one of those topics that's hard to address with the general public because the overwhelming thought is, shouldn't we have some minimum standards? Isn't that good for kids? Many citizens don't realize the whole thing is about control and the overreach of the government.

Hmm... maybe we'll all be moving to Montana at some point after all!!