Diocesan Resources
Catholic Education: Frequently Asked Questions About the Common Core State Standards (2014)
Catholic Education: Frequently Asked Questions About the Common Core State Standards, April 21, 2014
Purpose and Background: The history of Catholic schools in this country is diverse and expansive. Our schools have educated millions of young people over the years by providing them a superior academic background, always pointing the way to eternal life. The success of Catholic schools in handing on the faith, generation after generation, is a bright light in the history of the Church in the United States. Catholic schools located in urban settings, in small towns and rural communities continue to challenge students to use their gifts. Teachers in over 6594 Catholic elementary and high schools in the United States do an excellent job preparing over 1.9 million young people for the challenges of higher education in a competitive world. 99% of Catholic school students graduate from high school on time, and 85% of Catholic school graduates attend college.
Because the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) were not developed specifically for Catholic schools, there are growing concerns about the effect of these standards on Catholic schools in our country. Questions about the applicability of the CCSS are being raised in Catholic schools across the country. These Frequently Asked Questions are intended to respond to some of those concerns.
The CCSS are a set of K-12 public school standards developed in English language arts and mathematics. There has been a great deal of local, state, and national debate about the origin, quality, purpose and effect of CCSS. There appears to be wide disagreement over the CCSS. Proponents believe that CCSS provide a set of common, career-ready internationally benchmarked standards. Opponents believe that CCSS have resulted in federal overreach into schools, loss of parental choice, and a loss of academic rigor. The disparity of these views has created confusion, misinformation and misunderstanding and has made meaningful dialogue about CCSS difficult.