Skip to main content

Should NH review math and English standards?

Image
News Date
Body

On Thursday, May 8 the state Board of Education heard testimony from the public on whether or not the state should reconsider its public school standards for English and math.

Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut asked the board to consider a review of the standards, which are based on Common Core. 

Local school districts do not have to use the standards for their curriculum, but annual state assessment tests are based on Common Core.

Supporters of a review argue that the Common Core standards are developmentally inappropriate for younger children. They also criticize Common Core for missing key components of math in higher grades. The English standards are often critiqued for emphasizing writing and informational reading instead of literature. 

Opponents of a review argue that it would be costly and time consuming for districts that are just now getting comfortable with new curriculum. 

“We believe that an attempt to refine, amend, or rewrite the educational standards is unnecessary, of marginal value, and a poorly timed diversion of that limited bandwidth,” testified Val Zanchuk, chair of the Business and Industry Association. “It would reduce the educational community’s ability to engage the more pressing issue of workforce development.” 

The Business and Industry Association has been a long-term supporter of Common Core.

Click here to visit our issue page and learn more about the pros and cons of Common Core.

Do you support a review of New Hampshire’s math and English standards for public schools, which are based on Common Core?  Share your opinion in the comments below.

Comments

Login or register to post comments

Thank you to our sponsors and donors