Common Core in Virginia

[Anonymous]

I am a parent of preschoolers and am just starting to focus on the public schools. I understand that Virginia is not implementing the Common Core. Does anyone have the history of that decision? Is there any chance that might change? Thanks for any insight.

[Anonymous]

Virginia basically follows common core, even if it's not a formal approach:

http://hamptonroads.com/2011/11/virginias-way-common-core

More importantly, the state legislature just passed legislation that should deemphasize some of the SOL testing.

The state curriculum is weird. Your child will spend so much time studying moon phases in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade, you'll think he's training to be a werewolf.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a parent of preschoolers and am just starting to focus on the public schools. I understand that Virginia is not implementing the Common Core. Does anyone have the history of that decision? Is there any chance that might change? Thanks for any insight.

It goes back to the founding. Massachusetts was founded by people who wanted to make a community- so many of their laws to this day- focus on the community. Virginia was founded by a for profit company and second sons of wealthy English families- its laws to this day are more focused on individual liberties and individualism. Common Core is too federal for Virginia.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know the SOL tests they are taking away? The information I got says they are being reduced from 22 to 17 tests in grades 3-8. Common Core is a set of standards, not tests. VA has their own standards. There is no other reason why they can't adopt common core other than they don't want to.

[Anonymous]

Common core is just SOL with a big government spin. Neither are good.

[Anonymous]

Why do so many say this? It's just a set of standards. If others want to write tests to work off common core, isn't that a good thing rather than tests that don't measure a state's standards?

[Anonymous]

OP - This document may help answer your question. To see the tests students will be taking, your best resource is the VDOE website.

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/news/news_releases/2010/jun16.shtml

This link will take you to information on why VA supports the SOL and not the common core. Other links here will take you to information about SOL testing as well as curriculum and other questions you may have. Good luck with your little one.

[Anonymous]

Both my kids go to private and their school follows Core. I think the curriculum is right on target. Plus, I don't know if we will move out of VA one day so I want to make sure they are not behind just in case since many of the states are following Core. Arne Duncan supports Core all the way. I am not sure why VA has to ge different in the public school realm.

[Anonymous]

Arne Duncan has no clue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Arne Duncan has no clue.

Forty-five states, the District of Columbia, four territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) have adopted the Common Core State Standards. Virginia, Texas, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Alaska are the only states that have not adopted Core.

Where is Virginia ranked for education? Who are you calling clueless? Gotta love the naysayers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arne Duncan has no clue.

Forty-five states, the District of Columbia, four territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) have adopted the Common Core State Standards. Virginia, Texas, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Alaska are the only states that have not adopted Core.

Where is Virginia ranked for education? Who are you calling clueless? Gotta love the naysayers.

Virginia is ranked 26 with an education policy grade oh C-. We are teetering on average to below average. This is reality. Do what you can to make things better. Parent involvement at home and in the classroom, especially in the elementary years is one way of getting things kicked off right. In any case, don't kid yourself into thinking everything is peachy and perfect. We aren't doing that great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arne Duncan has no clue.

Forty-five states, the District of Columbia, four territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) have adopted the Common Core State Standards. Virginia, Texas, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Alaska are the only states that have not adopted Core.

Where is Virginia ranked for education? Who are you calling clueless? Gotta love the naysayers.

Virginia is ranked 26 with an education policy grade oh C-. We are teetering on average to below average. This is reality. Do what you can to make things better. Parent involvement at home and in the classroom, especially in the elementary years is one way of getting things kicked off right. In any case, don't kid yourself into thinking everything is peachy and perfect. We aren't doing that great.

True. But remember there is a big difference between Virginia and Northern Virginia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arne Duncan has no clue.

Forty-five states, the District of Columbia, four territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) have adopted the Common Core State Standards. Virginia, Texas, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Alaska are the only states that have not adopted Core.

Where is Virginia ranked for education? Who are you calling clueless? Gotta love the naysayers.

Virginia is ranked 26 with an education policy grade oh C-. We are teetering on average to below average. This is reality. Do what you can to make things better. Parent involvement at home and in the classroom, especially in the elementary years is one way of getting things kicked off right. In any case, don't kid yourself into thinking everything is peachy and perfect. We aren't doing that great.

True. But remember there is a big difference between Virginia and Northern Virginia.

NP here. Wow...really??? Dang.... N. Virginia might as well be its own state like W. Virginia.....lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arne Duncan has no clue.

Forty-five states, the District of Columbia, four territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) have adopted the Common Core State Standards. Virginia, Texas, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Alaska are the only states that have not adopted Core.

Where is Virginia ranked for education? Who are you calling clueless? Gotta love the naysayers.

Virginia is ranked 26 with an education policy grade oh C-. We are teetering on average to below average. This is reality. Do what you can to make things better. Parent involvement at home and in the classroom, especially in the elementary years is one way of getting things kicked off right. In any case, don't kid yourself into thinking everything is peachy and perfect. We aren't doing that great.

True. But remember there is a big difference between Virginia and Northern Virginia.

NP here. Wow...really??? Dang.... N. Virginia might as well be its own state like W. Virginia.....lol.

You do realize that has been seriously considered, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arne Duncan has no clue.

Forty-five states, the District of Columbia, four territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) have adopted the Common Core State Standards. Virginia, Texas, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Alaska are the only states that have not adopted Core.

Where is Virginia ranked for education? Who are you calling clueless? Gotta love the naysayers.

Virginia is ranked 26 with an education policy grade oh C-. We are teetering on average to below average. This is reality. Do what you can to make things better. Parent involvement at home and in the classroom, especially in the elementary years is one way of getting things kicked off right. In any case, don't kid yourself into thinking everything is peachy and perfect. We aren't doing that great.

Problem is, they don't particularly *like* parent involvement. It always ends up giving them more headaches... Show of hands -- how many reading this thread have been trying to find out what their kids were really doing in the classroom, to no avail? Other than a few loose worksheets -- nada. Kids are studying Rome these days, for instance. Nary a word came home about it, and the online manual is not accessible. We can talk about the Romans at home until we're blue in the face -- if we diid not hit that minuscule detail the SOL wants them to know, he'll still have to only rely on the classroom work, sans parent contribution, to get her grade in school. I don't get it. How hard is it to have a textbook, so we can anchor our conversations?