Suggested Language for Oklahoma Statute

The purpose of these amendments is to prevent the State Board of Education from re-adopting
the Common Core English language arts and mathematics standards under another name.
P. 11, insert after line 4:
2. Critical thinking means analytical thinking, defined as logical, linear factual analysis used to
reach a conclusion.
p. 19, insert beginning with line 8:
To be considered college- and career-ready, the English Language Arts standards must fulfill at
least the following requirements:
1. Beginning with grade 1 [kindergarten?], familiarize students with English phonograms
and all of their sounds, using traditional phonics instruction rather than whole
language or sight words;
2. Include significant instruction in English grammar;
3. Require that at least 80 percent of English study focus on imaginative literature;
4. Require that at least 80 percent of literary works taught in grades 8 through 12 be
complete works of classic British and American authors, published before 1970; and
5. Choose all literary works to be studied on the basis of literary merit rather than
popularity or political considerations.
To be considered college- and career-ready, the mathematics standards must fulfill at least the
following requirements:
1. Require fluency with addition and subtraction of multi-digit whole numbers by grade 3
using the standard algorithms (see note 3 below);
2. Require fluency with multiplication and division of multi-digit whole numbers by grade 4
using the standard algorithms (see note 3 below);
3. Require fluency with arithmetic operations on decimals by grade 5 (see note 3 below);
4. Require fluency with arithmetic operations on fractions by grade 5 (see note 3 below);
5. Over a transitional period of six years, prepare students to take the first authentic
Algebra I course, as defined in the Presidential National Advisory Mathematics Panel
report (2008), by grade 8; and
6. Include a traditional Euclidean geometry course, of the type described in the California
Content Standards: Geometry (1997).

Notes:
1. The California standards referred to at the end are here:
http://www.ixl.com/standards/california/math/high-school. As you can see, we couldnt put all
this in the statute, but Zeev recommends it as a good description of a geometry course.
2. The presidential math report referred to is here:
http://www2.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/mathpanel/report/final-report.pdf.
3. Zeev says his four fluency standards would be ambitious for American schools (theyre based
on Singapore, etc.), but he would definitely want (1) and (3) even if the other two go.