CORE: Percolates a bitter brew

When the states ventured into reviewing Common Core State Standards in 2010 for classroom use, they believed they would have control over curriculum, testing and teacher training. Nothing is further from the truth.

Of the 45 states who originally signed on to begin this untried program for the upcoming school year, 11 have changed their posture. Many are faced with uncontrolled costs while locked into CCSS program, while the “carrot” to enroll in the program, Race to the Top grants, has proved elusive.

Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Oklahoma have dropped involvement from the testing portion due to cost and inability to administer test as defined in CCSS.

Ohio and Michigan have stopped funding for CCSS.

Pennsylvania and Indiana depart from the governing body of CCSS which determines testing, PARCC.

Missouri has deleted curriculum.

South Dakota has requested the legislature to approve any future spending for CCSS.

Minnesota has adopted only the english language arts portion of program.

Alaska, Nebraska, Texas and Virginia opted out of the program completely.

Nationally, assessment (tests) in CCSS average $29.50 per student. All tests are administered electronically.

In Idaho, which, according to State Superintendent of Education Tom Luna, has 280,000 enrolled students, the budget for student achievement assessment, item #u on the state website, is $1,703,500. In my calculations this works out to $60.84 per student, a 76.8 percent increase from last year.

Wake up Idaho and smell the coffee. Can we taxpayers afford CCSS?

CAROLYN K. MINNICK

Sandpoint