National "Common Core" education standards meeting local resistance
The new Common Core education standards are meeting local resistance before they've even been implemented in Missouri.
About 150 people in the Lindbergh School District attended an informational meeting held last night. But the state education official was heckled while she tried to explain the new standards. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Maureen Clancy-May was met with calls to "tell the truth" and questions about using kids as a science experiment.
Missouri is one of 45 states that have adopted the Common Core standard, a set of national goals for reading, writing and math skills.
Many at last night's meeting wanted to know why the state Legislature wasn't involved in the decision to adopt the standard.
Legislatures in several states, including Missouri, are now debating a repeal.
MO move to national education standards under fire in Jeff City
The national standards define the skills and knowledge students should have. And proponents say Missouri students need Common Core in order to stay competitive with students from 45 other states that have adopted them.
But some state lawmakers are balking, claiming that the move to Common Core will give federal education officials too much control over local schools. Senator John Lamping co-sponsored a bill to repeal Common Core in Missouri. The Ladue Republican has accused federal education officials of coercion. He and other opponents have also questioned the cost of implementation, since the standards call for computerized testing.
The State's Education Commissioner Chris Nicastro says the new standards only outline what students should know, not how schools and teachers should go about teaching, because Common Core doesn't dictate curriculum.
Both Missouri and Illinois adopted the standards in 2010. Illinois will achieve full implementation in the 2013-14 school year, a full year ahead of the Show-me state.
Latest News
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8

New security measures in place for soccer tourney at Bu…
St. Louis plays host Thursday night to a soccer exhibition featuring a pair of rivals in the English Premier League. With the Cardinals on the road, Busch Stadium welcomes some of ...

Construction begins final phase Page Ave extension
Construction is set to begin this morning on Stage 3 of the Page Extension, and MoDOT local leaders are gathering in St. Charles County later Wednesday morning to mark the occasion...

IL Republican Bucshon to challenge Enyart for 12th Dist…
O'FALLON, Ill. (AP) - An Illinois Army National Guard veteran and former sports journalist says he's running for a southern Illinois congressional seat. The Belleville News-...

IL Senate overrides `Smart Grid' veto
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Illinois Senate has again approved a plan to address so-called Smart Grid technology over the objection of Gov. Pat Quinn. Senators voted 44-11 ...

Dozens homeless after St. Charles apartments flood
Dozens of St. Charles residents are homeless after their apartments flooded during Monday night's heavy rainfall. Residents at the Riverview Lane Apartments spent Tuesday ...

Stan Musial's house for sale
For the right price, you can live like a Cardinal great. The home of Stan "The Man" Musial is on the market. The family of Stan decided it is time to sell his mid-century Ladue ho...

IL lawmaker removes name from gambling expansion bill
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The longtime promoter of expanding Illinois gambling has taken his name from a bill over "perceived conflict of interest" with his law firm. In a stateme...

Man convicted for molesting child
A north county man is headed to jail after a jury convicted him of molesting a child. Richard Williams was found guilty of five charges in all. Williams molested the child, who wa...