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Study Finds Historic Drop in National Reading and Math Scores Since Adoption of Common Core Curriculum Standards
Pioneer Institute ^ | 4/27/2020 | Editorial Staff

Posted on 04/29/2020 10:55:14 AM PDT by Signalman

Lower performing students hardest hit

BOSTON – As we approach the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the United States Department of Education in May, shocking trends in student performance should lead us to reconsider the federal role in education and whether the initiative for policymaking should be returned to local schools, communities, and states.

Breaking with decades of slow improvement, U.S. reading and math scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and other assessments have seen historic declines since most states implemented national Common Core English and math curriculum standards six years ago, according to a new study published by Pioneer Institute.

While Common Core was promoted as improving the international competitiveness of U.S. students in math, our international standing has remained low while the skills of average and lower performing American students have dropped in both math and reading.

Nationally, fourth- and eighth-grade NAEP math scores were rising gradually in the years before Common Core was implemented (2003-2013). Post-Common Core, scores at both grades have fallen, eighth grade at nearly the same rate as it was previously increasing.

The declines are most acute for the lowest-achieving students, increasing inequality. Scores for students at the 90th percentile have mostly continued their pre-Common Core trend of gradual improvement. But the farther behind students were, the more substantial the declines, with the biggest drops occurring for those at the 25th and 10th percentiles.

“The sustained decline we’re now seeing, especially among our most vulnerable students, simply cannot be allowed to continue,” said Theodor Rebarber, author of “The Common Core Debacle.”

U.S. students fare better in reading than they do in math when compared to international competitors, but U.S. reading trends are similar to those seen in math, with gradual pre-Common Core improvement replaced by declines after Common Core was implemented.

From 2003 to 2013, national fourth- and eighth-grade reading scores were increasing at an average of about half of a point each year. Since 2013, fourth-grade reading scores have been falling by less than half of a point each year, while eighth-grade scores have dropped by nearly a full point a year.

Rebarber also finds that Common Core is a product of the misguided progressive pedagogies and biases of the education establishment that developed it. “Several of us allied with Pioneer Institute have been pointing out, ever since it was introduced, the deeply flawed educational assumptions that permeate the Common Core and the many ways in which it is at odds with curriculum standards in top-achieving countries.” Unfortunately, the disappointing results of Common Core—particularly for lower performing students—were predicted in 2010.

“Nearly a decade after states adopted Common Core, the empirical evidence makes it clear that these national standards have yielded underwhelming results for students,” said Pioneer Executive Director Jim Stergios. “The proponents of this expensive, legally questionable policy initiative have much to answer for.”

“It’s time for federal law to change to allow states as well as local school districts to try a broader range of approaches to reform,” added Rebarber. “With a more bottom-up approach, more school systems will have the opportunity to choose curricula consistent with our international competitors and many decades of research on effective classroom teaching.”

State Analyses (See Appendix)

The study also includes summary analyses of pre- and post-Common Core performance in seven states: Massachusetts, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, and New York. These states, chosen mainly based on their size and geographic distribution, generally reveal a pattern similar to the national results.

About the Author

Theodor Rebarber has worked on education reform and policy for three decades in the public, nonprofit and private sectors. He currently leads nonprofit AccountabilityWorks, which conducts education policy research and offers online testing services at AWSchoolTest.com. Previously, he was co-founder and chief education officer of a venture capital-backed charter school management company. Rebarber served as a senior staff member in Congress. He worked on education policy, including curriculum standards and testing, at the U.S. Education Department for the office of research and at the Vanderbilt Institute for Public Policy Studies. He has testified before Congress and state legislatures as well as developed analyses on a range of education policy topics.


TOPICS: Education
KEYWORDS: arth; bush; commoncore; commoncoredisaster; education; mccain; romney
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1 posted on 04/29/2020 10:55:14 AM PDT by Signalman
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To: Signalman

Much of the first four months of 2020 has been a liberal’s wet dream.


2 posted on 04/29/2020 10:56:26 AM PDT by CatOwner
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To: Signalman

Wel, that was the goal. No?


3 posted on 04/29/2020 10:56:27 AM PDT by stanne
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To: Signalman

This was the desired outcome for Yeb! and the Globalists who were pushing this.


4 posted on 04/29/2020 10:57:12 AM PDT by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizens Are Born Here of Citizen Parents_Know Islam, No Peace-No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: Signalman

I hope Trump’s top priority leading off his 2nd term is school reform


5 posted on 04/29/2020 10:57:56 AM PDT by 1Old Pro (#openupstateny)
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To: Signalman

DUH!!!!


6 posted on 04/29/2020 10:58:14 AM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion....... The HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: Signalman

Whatever liberals touch....

And the libs not only touched education, they had all sorts of formerly banned sexual activities with it.


7 posted on 04/29/2020 10:58:21 AM PDT by Da Coyote
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To: Signalman

There’s a Common Core for reading??? Yikes.


8 posted on 04/29/2020 10:59:29 AM PDT by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberaln would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
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To: Signalman

Dewey would be proud, yet more “reformers” following in his footsteps and dumbing down Americans.


9 posted on 04/29/2020 10:59:35 AM PDT by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher)
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To: Signalman
Study Finds Historic Drop in National Reading and Math Scores Since Adoption of Common Core Curriculum Standards

I believe that was the goal.

Reading and math scores are racism, donchaknow.

10 posted on 04/29/2020 11:00:00 AM PDT by Steely Tom ([Seth Rich] == [the Democrats' John Dean])
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To: Signalman

Looks like “common core” is a success. I am presuming this is the real desired outcome.


11 posted on 04/29/2020 11:00:06 AM PDT by Salman
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To: Signalman

This is a real problem. The public schools have churned out so many idiots that the idiots wield electoral power.


12 posted on 04/29/2020 11:00:49 AM PDT by brownsfan (Behold, the power of government cheese.)
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To: CatOwner

“Much of the first four months of 2020 has been a liberal’s wet dream.”

Well said.

‘Experts’: “We recommend 6-feet separation. Maybe. Probably the virus can linger in the air for a long time. Maybe.”

Sheeple: “OK, so our new superstition will be 6 feet! Got it! We’re safe at 6 feet.”

‘Experts’: “No, not really, but...”

Sheeple: “Don’t confuse us! We’re doing 6 feet dammit!”


13 posted on 04/29/2020 11:01:50 AM PDT by CodeToad (Arm Up! They Have!)
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To: Signalman

Eliminate the US Department of Education. The federal government has no business in education (or healthcare either). States are better at education and it helps keep commie indoctrination down. Also eliminates ridiculous one-size fits all federal mandates. ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!


14 posted on 04/29/2020 11:02:23 AM PDT by RatRipper ( Democrats and socialists are vile liars, thieves and murderers - enemies of good and America.)
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To: Signalman

Tell US something we didn’t already know.


15 posted on 04/29/2020 11:03:55 AM PDT by Harpotoo (Being a socialist is a lot easier than having to WORK like the rest of US:-))
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To: brownsfan
That's the plan, not the unintended result.

All three of my daughters attended pubic school in Japan through most or all of their elementary years. They all scored in the middle of the pack (between 40th and 60th percentiles) in the Japanese equivalent of our Iowa basic tests. First year back home (in one of the better districts in Pennsylvania), they were suddenly in the high 80th and low 90th percentiles. I kid you not.

16 posted on 04/29/2020 11:06:21 AM PDT by Vigilanteman (The politicized state destroys aspects of civil society, human kindness and private charity.)
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To: Signalman

By design. Stupid people are dependent on government.


17 posted on 04/29/2020 11:10:05 AM PDT by backwoods-engineer (Politics is the continuation of war by other means. --Clausewitz)
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To: Signalman

“Study Finds Historic Drop in National Reading and Math Scores Since Adoption of Common Core Curriculum Standards”

Not sure what the problem is here. After all, public schools are still ‘free’ for my kids - so why should I care?


18 posted on 04/29/2020 11:10:32 AM PDT by BobL
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To: Signalman

Well, DUH!!


19 posted on 04/29/2020 11:11:05 AM PDT by Osage Orange (Mar's isn't a place to raise your kid...)
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To: Texas Eagle

Take functional illiterates and dummy THEM down even further! What could go wrong with that?


20 posted on 04/29/2020 11:14:30 AM PDT by SMARTY ("Nobility is defined by the demands it makes on us - by obligations, not by rights".)
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