Pre K-12 & PSRP Issues
Background IssuesOur curriculum is the foundation of our hopes for the next generation. It must provide children with the knowledge, skills, and tools to lead successful and meaningful lives. All children, regardless of neighborhood, deserve to be exposed to a rich, well-sequenced curriculum, starting before kindergarten. Increased testing requirements have squeezed music, arts, history, and other non-tested subjects out of the curriculum. Just because something is easily tested does not make it more important. A well- rounded and rich common curriculum is essential to preparing students to be college and career ready. The strength of any curriculum rests on the standards that frame learning experiences. Standards define the knowledge and skills that students should acquire and are vital to ensuring that we hold all students to high expectations. Governors and state commissioners of education from 48 states and the District of Columbia (including Michigan) have committed to developing Common Core Standards in English-Language Arts and Mathematics for grades K-12 that are clear, understandable, aligned with college and work expectations, rigorous in content and higher-order skill application, and evidence-based. In order to provide useful feedback on student progress and inform future learning experiences, student assessment must consider multiple measures of learning (not just standardized tests) in order to provide thorough information. Standardized testing can be a useful tool, but only if it is aligned with a rich curriculum (tied to common core standards) and combined with other assessment tools. What We NeedRe-emphasize Social Studies, Science, the Arts, and Physical Education: These important disciplines must be included in curricular frameworks even though they are not often included in high-stakes testing. Michigan should adopt common core standards for these important subjects in order to ensure that they do not vanish from our schools. Extra-Curricular Opportunities: Common sense and years of research support the crucial role extra-curricular activities can play in student success, but tight budgets and the focus on test scores are squeezing them out. Comprehensive Reading Instruction for Early Learners: There is no stronger educational research finding then the importance of developing early literacy skills. Quality pre-school and all-day kindergarten programs allow children to develop the language, vocabulary, and conceptual skills crucial to becoming an active reader. Reading instruction should include the proven combination of individualized, small group, and whole class instruction. Class size matters when teaching reading, and staff must have access to all necessary supplies, materials, and professional development. Responsible Student Testing: High-quality student testing that supports and enhances teaching and learning can be a useful instruction tool. However, testing should not overshadow the importance of student learning, and high stakes tests should not carry disproportionate weight in educational decisions. Quality assessment means using a variety of assessment tools, including multiple measures of student performance, and aligning assessment tools with curricular standards. Career and Technical Education Options: The overemphasis on high stakes testing has also reduced opportunities for students to learn concrete career skills, which particularly impacts some of our most at-risk students. Reviving such programs will require funding and will. Meaningful Professional Development: In order for curriculum to meet its goals, it is essential that staff receive high quality professional development aligned with common core standards.
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