Education board to go with national math and English standards

Massachusetts education officials on Wednesday approved a plan to replace the current math and English public school curricula with national standards. The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted 9-0 in joining 27 other states in accepting the new national Common Core Standards which define what is taught in math and English classes at each grade level. Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray testified before the board saying the national guidelines are stronger in some areas than the state’s guidelines.Education Secretary Paul Reville called the vote a “watershed moment” for the state and ensures Massachusetts will remain a leader in education.?This is good for our kids and good for our students,” he said.The guidelines, which were developed by a state consortium of states, have been promoted by the Obama administration, which has linked its adoption of the standards to the $3.4 billion Race to the Top education initiative. Massachusetts has applied for $250 million under the program and would receive the credit if they have adopted the Common Core Standards by Aug. 2.Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester said the state will convene panels of educators to decide where Massachusetts current standards are stronger than the national standards.Opponents of the reform say Massachusetts educational system will be weakened by the move, citing the state’s standards as the reason for first-place finishes by Massachusetts students in regards to national assessment testing. They believe taking on the national standards means weakening the state curriculum and putting an end to Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) testing.Gubernatorial candidate and Swampscott resident Charlie Baker said he will fight to maintain control of Massachusetts? curriculum and standards. If he is elected governor, he said the MCAS will remain in place as a graduation requirement to “preserve Massachusetts? autonomy from the federal government on education.”?Governor Patrick and his administration have refused to tell us why they?re forcing this decision on the students, parents and teachers when our education system is the best in the nation,” Baker said. “Governor Patrick, his administration and the board of education have caved to the special interests who have been pushing to eliminate MCAS for years and this decision has put all the gains made during the past two decades at risk.” For the complete story, check tomorrow’s The Daily Item.