Harford County Executive David R. Craig wants Maryland to withdraw from the common core national test, citing a lack of clarity over how much the new system will cost, concerns about test questions and that only 9 percent of teachers feel ready to implement it.
"There are red flags going up everywhere threatening the statewide K-12 education system, and it's time to cut our losses now," said Craig, a Republican running for governor said in a statement. "Common core has its own set of issues and the national test that is lumped in with it just compounds the problem. The State Department of Education is embracing a federal education agenda that forces too many changes onto teachers and students at once, and it's time to put the word 'Maryland' back into our schools."
Craig said Harford County Public Schools budgeted $18.5 million to implement the test. At a stop at a county public school classroom this week, Craig added took note of confusion over the wording of a test question that baffled the teacher, the student and the county executive himself.
Craig has previously called common core a "great mistake."
The new curriculum has been met with frustration by many parents and educators in the state. Parents protested in front of the state education building in Baltimore Monday morning, the start of American Education Week.
In addition, some state lawmakers, including Del. Ron George – a Republican also running for governor – have pledged to introduce legislation to delay or eliminate the curriculum from Maryland schools.
A spokesman for the state Department of Education says the Common Core State Standards better prepare students for college or career after high school.
Read more: http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/political/harford-co-executive-david-craig-seeks-to-end-common-core-curriculum#ixzz2monyxnOe
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