Key features of the Common Core include:
* College and Career Readiness: The standards are designed to prepare students for success in college and the workforce.
* Focus and Coherence: They emphasize fewer topics in greater depth, promoting a more coherent understanding of concepts.
* Rigor: They incorporate three aspects of rigor: conceptual understanding, procedural skill and fluency, and application.
* State-Led Adoption: While developed collaboratively, states voluntarily adopted the standards, and they have the flexibility to adjust implementation based on their specific needs.
Criticisms of the Common Core:
The Common Core has been the subject of considerable debate and criticism, including concerns about:
* Standardized Testing: Increased emphasis on standardized testing tied to the standards.
* Curriculum Overreach: The perception that the standards dictate specific curriculum content rather than just outlining learning goals.
* Lack of Local Control: Concerns about reduced local control over education decisions.
* Implementation Challenges: Difficulties in implementation, teacher training, and material development.
It's important to note that the Common Core itself is not a curriculum. It outlines what students should know and be able to do, but individual states and school districts are responsible for choosing the curriculum and instructional materials that best meet those standards. The degree of implementation and its impact varies significantly from state to state and district to district.