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Common Core In Oregon

Sydney Sander
Portland State University

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Introduction
In 2010, Oregon adopted the concept of Common Core into Oregon public schools,
which held standards for K-12 students. In high school, all students must partake in a set of
standardized tests notable named OAKS testing, these include math, science, and critical
thinking. In order to graduate, all students must pass the test with a certain score. Along with
that, kids grade 3-8 are also required to take a series of tests based on critical thinking. Common
Core is used to observe student growth and identify other areas in which those specific students
are still in need. From this we can take our standards and compare them to other countries. It
supports further education and job standards for all graduation requirements. It also sets a certain
amount of expectations set by the Oregon State Board of Education. Right now, Oregon is
second to last in graduation rates in the U.S. The idea of Common Core is being promoted right
now by John Kitzhaber and opposed by Dennis Richardson.

John Kitzhaber Stance

One of Kitzhabers historically based campaign stances was the issue of education. He
has stressed education reform and different ways of pursuing that. Such as prioritizing
improvement and investment for public schools. Early initiatives also include boosting computer
science education and implementing the concept of Common Core. Kitzhaber recognized the
significance of Common Core in the global economy in this way; kids in Oregon are not just
competing with their peers in the state for jobs, but with others across the country and
world. (John Kitzhaber). As well as Common Core being something strongly advocated,
Kitzhaber has other goals in his campaign plan. One of his biggest goals is to have a 100%

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graduation rate in Oregon by 2025. The Common Core expectations are supposed to be
advantageous to this, and it is expected that that this goal will be reached. Another priority of his
is investing in early age education to further students in their more advanced education. They are
set up to succeed even before they get into kindergarden. Kitzhaber also intends to invest in
successful programs and practices that are exemplary now and replicating them all over the state.

Dennis Richardson Stance

Dennis Richardson is very much opposed to this issue because he is against the idea of
schools competing for federal money. Also when approached with the idea that Oregon adopted
Common Core to gain federal money, he agrees it sounds prosperous in retrospect but the
devils in the details (Dennis Richardson). He does not agree on the implementation of the
Common Core Concept. He looks at it with the view that teachers are being told what to teach
like a script. He quotes that he knows of teachers who have quit just because of the new
education system being implemented. It takes away from the teaching and from the heart of
learning.

Discussion
Essentially Common Core is what students should know and be able to do as they
progress throughout the grade levels (Supevitz and Newman) Common Cores argument for
making it sound exceptional say that they challenge teachers to rethink the ways in which they
provide students with educational opportunities and foster the intellectual engagement of
students. I think this statement is trying to make it sound better then it actually is. It makes it

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sound like they're going to enhance the educators teaching capability and suddenly make
everything easier to understand. When actually they're basically giving the teacher a script to
teach. Critics are saying basically anyone could teach this. This is having a huge affect on
teachers because researchers say Common Core standards will most likely cause great teachers
to change teaching careers and pursue other things, because they dont want to be held down.
Many teachers such as veterans would rather retire than adjust to the way they teach. It will
already be a hard change to adjust to. It is not the way a lot of teachers are used to teaching and a
lot of students will have a difficult time getting used to this way of learning. This ranges from all
ages, but especially younger students.
The way Common Core standards work will require younger students to learn at a more
accelerated pace. This will be a struggle, especially for kids who already a little bit behind. The
syllabus will be taught more rapidly and at a higher thinking level. Early childhood programs
such as pre-school will become more stiff and rigid. Pre-school is more important and skills
students used to learn in the second grade will now be taught in Kindergarden. As I mentioned
before, kids who are currently struggling as of now, will most likely be behind more with a new
curriculum. The Common Core assessment tests will not have an equivalency test for those who
have special needs. This does not only single out the kids with special needs but the tests would
not then be accurate because of the outliers of the special needs kids.
Common Core would not only be a change for the students and teachers but also the
welfare of the schools. Common Core may lead textbooks to be obsolete. This will be a financial
disadvantage to some schools, having to adopt new materials and are up to Common Cores
standards. Financial disadvantages will also occur because it will cost schools money to update

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technology needed for Common Core standard assessments. A majority of tests will be only
available online. This could create issues in the districts because schools wont have enough
computers for all students.

Conclusion
In conclusion, I agree with Dennis Richardsons view point on education associating with
Common Core because my core beliefs do not coincide with what Common Core stands for.
Personally I do not believe that teachers should be told by a program or script what to teach
because it takes away from the educators attitude about what they are teaching. The compassion
isnt as strong from the teachers stand-point if they are teaching off of a script. Also from a
students view point, if students are told that they cannot graduate if they do not pass the
standardized tests known as OAKS testing, they may feel degraded if they dont pass the
Common Core assessments. There are certain students in high school who may not be intelligent
enough to pass these requirements that Common Core has set. Its not fair to those students who
have passed all their classes and have fulfilled their high school requirements, but the only thing
holding them back is not passing a set of tests because the government says you have to be this
smart to graduate high school, without any preparation. One of the arguments for favoring
Common Core is that this program will increase education reform. Common Core standards will
progress higher level thinking skills in all age levels of students. This program can lead students
to be more prepared for college level studies.

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References
Supovitz, J.A., Fink, R., Newman, B. (2014). From the inside in: An examination of Common
Core knowledge & communication in schools. CPRE Working Paper. Philadelphia:
Consortium for Policy Research in Education.
Meador, D. (n.d.). What are some Pros and Cons of the Common Core Standards? Retrieved
October 19, 2014, from
http://teaching.about.com/od/assess/f/What-Are-Some-Pros-And-Cons-Of-TheCommon-Core-Standards.htm
Oregon State Board of Education Adopts Common Core Standards and Higher Interim Math
Achievement Standards. (2010, October 28). Retrieved October 19, 2014, from
www.ode.state.or.us/news/Announcements/announcement.aspx?

http://

ID=6156&TypeID=4

Willis, C. (2014, September 4). Ore. starts controversial Common Core testing in schools.
Retrieved October 19, 2014, from http://www.kgw.com/story/news/local/eugene/ 2014/09/02/
oregon-common-core/14995199/
Roth, S. (2014, October 15). Kitzhaber, Richardson face off in KGW/Oregonian debate.
Retrieved October 19, 2014, from http://www.kgw.com/story/news/politics/

2014/10/15/

kitzhaber-richardson-kgw-oregonian-debate/17289601/
Delivering better results for students, more resources for teachers and more accountability for
taxpayers. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.oregon.gov/Gov/priorities/Pages/

education.aspx