Carbon County School District No. 2 administrators are beginning to look at new standards adopted by Wyoming a year ago.
The new standards, known as Common Core, apply to math and language arts learning primarily and are focused on preparing students for college.
The standards began to set roots in multiple school systems around the United States in 2010. Wyoming adopted the standards last year, which means the state assessment will change to reflect those standards, said Stephen Marsh, Wyoming Department of Education Assessment Supervisor.
Some school districts in Wyoming have already begun to integrate the new standards, but CCSD 2 is just beginning to help teachers understand Common Core so the standards may be taught in the classroom, said Superintendent Bob Gates.
“I think everyone is moving toward Common Core at their own rate,” Marsh said.
Gates said teachers will start using elements of Common Core this year, but to fully integrate it into the learning process could take three to four years.
Gates said the change in standards may present challenges when WDE changes the assessment.
“I think what is really driving the real issue is when we are tested on those standards and that’s when the rubber hits the road,” Gates said.
CCSD 2 Instructional Facilitator Peggy Hotchkiss, who helped bring Common Core standards to New Mexico a few years ago, said the standards are designed to help students reach a deeper level of understanding in subjects.
Hotchkiss said the new standards will dismiss the need for some subjects in math, so that students will learn fewer areas of math, but at a deeper level.
Some in Wyoming are concerned about the introduction of Common Core in Wyoming school districts.
A panel of three individuals met Aug. 21 in Cheyenne to share their view of the Common Core state standards.
Among them were Christy (Young) Hooley, a grade school teacher who taught in Wyoming and later decided to fight against Common Core standards; Joy Pullman, a researcher of the Heartland Institute and managing editor of School Reform News; and Sandra Stotsky, a professor of education reform at The University of Arkansas Hooley, Pullman and Stotsky, first made short presentations, then took questions from the audience.
Stotsky, who was involved in evaluating the standards, said Common Core lacked any substance, stating most of the standards were empty.
Marsh said the process to adopt the standards for Wyoming was an open and transparent discussion, giving all stakeholders a say.
“We never make decisions in a vacuum, we always give options to people,” Marsh said.
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