Learning curve.

OP here -- again.

One last thing -- anyone support common core/Virginia system?

We have done private school in the past and know first hand the benefits of not having so much testing. However, in our experience, private school was also not the perfect educational system for our kids -- math/science types that pushed the boundaries of what was offered academically at their school, and another child who has a mild LD.

Regardless of the spreadsheets that turn up, it seems to me that there is too much concern to quantify than to qualify. I would send my kids back to private if I could find the perfect fit for their skill sets and needs, but I haven't been able to. The only thing screwing up public education for my family so far is the attention to testing and teaching to the test.

Anonymous wrote:You should just use the search function on this forum. It's been discussed. Short answer, not that much difference.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/369125.page

OP here. Thanks for posting that link. I did read through it a couple of days ago, but I was hoping someone could provide a link or information that shows in spreadsheet format, charts, etc. that the Virginia system is in affect a provencial version of common core.

My other lingering curiosity is the what the differences are between the common core tests and those done in Virginia. I have read several articles, etc. but I haven't seen a nice side-by-side. I would find that very helpful.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Virginia is not common core because there's too many tea party hillbillies that control Richmond. That's about all you need to know. Aside from that, probably isn't much difference.

Please source that.

Maybe you ought to pay a little attention to state politics yourself. I'm sure you'll be able to figure it out yourself instead of relying on an anonymous online forum for your news.

PP -- bless your heart.

I do pay attention to state politics. However, state politics are not than same as policy standards, nor do they clarify the differences between Virginia and other states. I am so grateful to live in area with many education policy experts and was eager to hear their helpful advice, statistics, etc.

Maybe you can go crawl back under your rock and hide from views of the outside world.

Everything I've read about the CC standards sounds very similar to the SOLs. One key difference, however, is that the CC technically just covers math and language arts (although the language arts standards can impact other classes because they promote more content area reading/writing). The SOLs include social studies and science too.

The biggest difference is probably that SOLs have been around for a while so teachers are accustomed to them, curriculum is in alignment, they know what to expect on the tests, etc. For states that use CC, all of that is still being figured out and change is difficult.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VAs standards are just as high or higher.
By not subscribing to Common Core you don't have to teach to the new tests required in order to receive the Obama bribe money for subscribing.

We moved from VA to a CC state. I don't see much difference. The CC state requires a lot more reading and writing for math (i.e. even more word problems than in VA), but the ways of doing the problems are the same (same emphasis on estimating, multiple methods to get the the answer, etc.).

I COMPLETELY DISAGREE that the VA standards are higher. CC evaluates on many, many standards and I haven't done a side by side comparison, but they seem a tad higher that the VA standards. They are both available online, though, so you could compare them if you wanted to.

In order to qualify for the exemption from common core, virginia had to justify it with higher standards. So someone(s) high up thinks they're higher.

I only teach middle school math, but side by side there are a few topics covered on the SOLs that don't show up in CC. The CC does place more emphasis on justifying/explaining though.

Anonymous wrote:VAs standards are just as high or higher.
By not subscribing to Common Core you don't have to teach to the new tests required in order to receive the Obama bribe money for subscribing.

We moved from VA to a CC state. I don't see much difference. The CC state requires a lot more reading and writing for math (i.e. even more word problems than in VA), but the ways of doing the problems are the same (same emphasis on estimating, multiple methods to get the the answer, etc.).

I COMPLETELY DISAGREE that the VA standards are higher. CC evaluates on many, many standards and I haven't done a side by side comparison, but they seem a tad higher that the VA standards. They are both available online, though, so you could compare them if you wanted to.

You should just use the search function on this forum. It's been discussed. Short answer, not that much difference.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/369125.page

Anonymous wrote:

Virginia is not common core because there's too many tea party hillbillies that control Richmond. That's about all you need to know. Aside from that, probably isn't much difference.

Please source that.

Maybe you ought to pay a little attention to state politics yourself. I'm sure you'll be able to figure it out yourself instead of relying on an anonymous online forum for your news.

Anonymous wrote:VAs standards are just as high or higher.
By not subscribing to Common Core you don't have to teach to the new tests required in order to receive the Obama bribe money for subscribing.

Lo and behold, it's a tea party hillbillies right there!

VAs standards are just as high or higher.
By not subscribing to Common Core you don't have to teach to the new tests required in order to receive the Obama bribe money for subscribing.

SOLs were around long before Common Core and PARCC. Hilbillies have nothing to do with it.

Unfortunately, the legislature just approved cutting the number of tests. A liberal Democrat from Alexandria was the bill's sponsor.

Virginia is not common core because there's too many tea party hillbillies that control Richmond. That's about all you need to know. Aside from that, probably isn't much difference.

Please source that.

Virginia is not common core because there's too many tea party hillbillies that control Richmond. That's about all you need to know. Aside from that, probably isn't much difference.

Please educate me on how Virginia is really different than common core states. I know that Virginia did not adopt "Common Core" standards, but I also know that they have their own standards, which I have read in the past are in alignment with Common Core states.

I have recently read a number of articles about other states PARCC testing for Common Core and how parents are banding together and not letting their kids take the tests. Is the PARCC test like the Virginia SOL?

Thanks!