Common Core

Why Choose Liberty University Online Academy?

• A faith-based alternative to Common Core-based curriculum (LUOA has intentionally not aligned its curriculum to CCSS)
• Qualified, experienced teachers and academic advisors
• Accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI) via AdvancEd
• Opportunities to earn college credit while in high school
• Affordable and competitive prices with a low tuition rate of only $549 per course

What Are the Common Core State Standards?

Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are academic guidelines detailing what students are expected to learn in English, history/social studies, science and technical subjects, and math.

CCSS was developed by Achieve Inc., a private, nonprofit organization located in Washington, D.C. Achieve Inc. joined with other private organizations to create the American Diploma Project (ADP). The goal of the ADP and CCSS was to prepare students to enter higher education or the workforce. The Department of Education closely aligned acquiring waivers from the No Child Left Behind program with the adoption of CCSS, and federal funding was offered as an incentive for states to embrace CCSS.

What Are Some of the Main Concerns About Common Core?

If My State Hasn’t Adopted Common Core, Will My Child’s Education Be Impacted?

Since 46 states originally adopted Common Core, many publishing companies now draft their content to align with CCSS. Because of this, you will often find Common Core-aligned materials — even in private and faith-based schools that did not adopt Common Core. Unless parents homeschool or know to ask their schools about the instructional materials used, it is likely that CCSS has already had some impact on your child’s education.

According to the Common Core website, “Forty-one states, the District of Columbia, four territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) have adopted the Common Core State Standards.”* Alaska, Indiana, Florida, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia are the only states that have not implemented CCSS. However, see above for how your school may still be impacted via textbooks, etc.

*Common Core State Standards Initiative at Standards in Your State (viewed online July 30, 2021).

Is Common Core a National Curriculum?

Supporters of Common Core argue that it is not a national curriculum because each state can choose whether or not to implement it. However, states do receive financial incentives if they choose to adopt CCSS. Additionally, although the standards can be modified by each state, these modifications are limited to adding content. States must otherwise use the national standards and may not delete any content.

Does Common Core Have a National Database?

While the Common Core website denies that data collection is required with the implementation of CCSS, the Department of Education has overtly encouraged the collection of student data from preschool to the workforce.

 

Anne Duncan, former Secretary of Education, said this: “We want to see more states build comprehensive systems that track students from pre-K through college and then link school data to workforce data. We want to know whether Johnny participated in an early learning program and completed college on time and whether those things have any bearing on his earnings as an adult.”*

 

Whether directly or indirectly, Common Core does have ties to the collection of public school students’ sensitive data, potentially including information on health records, family income, grades, and religious affiliation. While the purposes of this data collection may sound noble, the actual use of this data may be concerning to families.

*US Department of Education at Robust Data Gives Us The Roadmap to Reform (viewed online August 23, 2021)