As Oklahoma becomes the third state to opt out of the “Common Core” education standards, some Kentucky Higher Education leaders are solidifying their support.
Presidents at 14 state campuses are joining a coalition with Council on Postsecondary Education President Bob King called Higher Ed for Higher Standards.
Murray State President Tim Miller and WKCTC President Barbara Veazy joined the coalition. Those missing from the list include University of Louisville President James Ramsey and Northern Kentucky University’s president.
The goal of the Common Core is to create consistent educational standards across states and to make sure those graduating high school are ready to enter either post-secondary education institutions or the workforce. Higher Ed for Higher Standards say it believes Common Core standards will help universities reduce the number of students who have to enroll in remedial classes once they’re on campus, as well as increase graduation rates.
“I agree with the Council on Postsecondary Education and with the Kentucky Department of Education, in that these standards set a level of expectation of our students, and of their teachers, and of their parents for support, that we need to keep our country up with world education standards," said Dr. Kris Williams, President of Henderson Community College and a member of the coalition.
Critics of the standards say the standards put too much emphasis on standardized testing and that the guidelines are a one-size fits all approach to education standards.
You can read NPR's FAQ page about the Common Core standards here.
