Common Core and Classical Education

Good afternoon!

One of the most common questions I've received from parents and the public regards the much-maligned Common Core State Standards (CCSS) that are scheduled for full implementation in the 2014-2015 school year and the extent to which the school will follow them. Many parents have strong feelings one way or the other regarding these standards. Some are strongly against them, often because they feel that, due to the varying populations of each state, national standards are unrealistic. Others are in favor, citing that we cannot accurately measure the efficacy of our schools if we don't have the same data. I'd say many educators fall somewhere in the middle. Many educators feel that the current way of doing things needs work- we test too much, teach too little, and our standards are a bit outdated. I know that I've felt that new standards were needed a long time ago- but I'm not sure the Common Core- or its methodology- is necessarily right either. 

So how does the classical model fit into the Common Core and its requirements? Charter schools are public schools and therefore, we must teach whatever standards Florida puts into place and, for now, those are the Common Core standards. However, there is a distinct difference- we will NOT be teaching to a test or using the canned curricula that has been developed specifically for Common Core. Our curriculum has been around for a long time- great works of literature, great speeches, scientific discoveries- much longer than any single set of standards. Our curriculum exceeds what is required by the Common Core. When the CCSS were released, the Core Knowledge foundation didn't have to change or adjust their curriculum to meet it- the curriculum already exceeded its requirements. Singapore Math was similarly already exceeding this "raise in standards of teaching". 

The bottom line is, if you have a solid curriculum and you allow teachers to truly TEACH- without focusing on teaching to a particular test- your students will pass any test put in front of them. In fact, they'll often exceed and succeed. And you do not have to change your time-tested curriculum to match standards they already far surpass.

Factum per Litteras 
(Achievement through Learning),
Kelly