South Carolina becomes 25th state to adopt Common Core standards in math, reading
July 18, 2010
COLUMBIA, SC – July 18, 2010 – South Carolina is now the 25thstate to adopt a national set of academic benchmarks that detail themath and reading skills students will learn as they move up throughpublic school grades.
The State Board of Education voted today to adopt “Common CoreStandards” developed by the National Governors Association and theCouncil of Chief State School Officers – the first time states havecollaborated to determine what students should know. The initiative’sgoal is to replace a hodgepodge of academic goals that vary considerablyfrom one state to the next. More than 40 states are currently workingtoward Common Core approvals.
The Common Core standards were developed over the last 12 months byteachers, parents, school administrators, civil rights leaders,education policymakers, business leaders and others from across thecountry. The group produced multiple drafts and collected comments frommore than 10,000 people online.
States that voluntarily adopt the Common Core may add additionalstandards as long as the core represents at least 85 percent of thestate’s standards in English language arts and math. Local schooldistricts would retain the responsibility for delivering classroomcurriculum.
“This isn’t a top-down federal mandate,” Rex said. “It’s a collectiveeffort of the states, which can adapt the Common Core standards to theirindividual situations and timelines.”
Gov. Mark Sanford co-signed South Carolina’s project application withRex.
The state superintendent said that while the overall content of SouthCarolina’s math and reading standards is already closely aligned withthe Common Core, the new standards would require students to master thatcontent in greater depth. Rex said the Education Department would helpteachers master any instructional transitions that might be needed.
Rex said the Common Core will make learning easier for students whosefamilies move from one state to another. “Third-graders, for example,would start learning to understand and use fractions no matter whichstate they live in,” he said.
