Friday, June 12, 2009

Should Texas Have Accepted the National Education Standards?

The latest buzz in Texas education is that Texas turned down the option of joining 46 other states (and 3 U.S. territories) in accepting the National Education Standards as an effort to join English Language Arts and Mathematics standards across the United States. The other states that are not participating are Alaska, Missouri and South Carolina. The Reporter News based in Abilene, states in their article Texas Rejects Education ‘Yardstick,’ that “the movement, spearheaded by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), is aimed at generating a yardstick for U.S. children to be judged and have their performances compared with students around the world.” What do you think? Would Texas be better off with national standards? Would this give us a chance to have common content across the curriculum in the United States? If all 50 states accepted these standards, would a child who moves with their family, be able to stay connected with their studies due to everyone having the same outcomes/standards?

Some people argue that if we nationalize all education standards we would make the United States competitive in a global economy. They believe we would be doing this by raising the bar and preparing students better. CCSSO President-Elect and Maine Education Commissioner Sue Gendron states on the National Governors Association website: "Only when we agree about what all high school graduates need to be successful will we be able to tackle the most significant challenge ahead of us: transforming instruction for every child.” She also states “Common standards will provide educators clarity and direction about what all children need to succeed in college and the workplace and allow states to more readily share best practices that dramatically improve teaching and learning. Our graduates and frankly, the future of our economy, cannot wait any longer for our educational practices to give equal opportunity for success to every student."

While others feel that education should be the responsibility of each state. The acceptance of these standards would in Texas cost the taxpayers billions of dollars and the Texas standards would change again. They feel that the TEKS and TAKS are great for Texas because they have input from Texas educators in public schools and higher education establishments, as well as people from the community and businesses.

See where Texas ranks in public school and higher education, by clicking this link.

Please feel free to answer the questions below:

1. What are your feelings on National Education Standards?
2. Do you think Texas should join the other states in this journey?
3. How do you feel about the TEKS and TAKS?



Texas ASCD Upcoming Events:

June 16th, 2009
Elementary Science Tutorial: Start With Vocabulary and Measurement
Annette Venegas
Goose Creek CISD

June 18th & 19th, 2009
Maximizing Student Success
Tim Westerberg
Frisco ISD

July 14th & 15th, 2009
Curriculum Leadership Academy
Second Session of Three
Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD (Dallas Metroplex area)

July 14th & 15th, 2009
Maximizing Student Success
Tim Westerberg
Austin, TX

July 27th & 28th, 2009
Jumping Hurdles & Raising the Bar Toward Achieving Excellence in Science
Gloria Chatelain and Courtney Williams
Greenville ISD

August 10th - 12th, 2009
Traditional Block Scheduling
Dr. J. Allen Queen
Eagle Pass ISD
CLOSED - DISTRICT ONLY TRAINING

September 16th & 17th, 2009
Five Keys to Reading Success
Tim Rasinkski
Northside ISD

September 22nd & 23rd, 2009
Boot Camp for Curriculum Administrators
John Crain
Hays CISD

October 1st & 2nd, 2009
Mapping Active Literacy
Heidi Hayes Jacobs
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD

October 25th - 27th, 2009
Texas ASCD Annual Conference
Embassy Suites - Frisco (Dallas Metroplex area)

October 27th & 28th, 2009
Curriculum Leadership Academy
Third Session of Three
Embassy Suites - Frisco (Dallas Metroplex area)

November 13th, 2009
Jumping Hurdles & Raising the Bar Toward Achieving Excellence in Science
Gloria Chatelain and Courtney Williams
El Paso

November 18th & 19th, 2009
New Essential Curriculum for 21st Century Learners
Heidi Hayes Jacobs
Frisco ISD

December 8-9, 2009
Boot Camp for Curriculum Administrators
John Crain
Allen ISD

February 17-18, 2010
Connecting Content and Kids: Understanding By Design and Differentiated Instruction
Jay McTighe
TBD