Common Core Debate

1. Common Core Debate First negative constructive by Chloe Dixon Partner: Tania Prior Group: Courtney Swanson and Catharine McCurdy

2. Negative: The Issue • Students are graduating from high school ill prepared and without the basic skills required to succeed for the workforce and college. • 42% of U.S. employers find high school graduates unprepared for the work force • 30-40% of graduates are unprepared for entry level college work • (Clearer and Higher: Why Students Need the Common Core, 2012).

3. The Chief States School Officers have not overstepped their authority in developing and recommending the Common Core State Standards for U.S. Public Schools. • The Common Core is a necessity, without it: • 1.) Standards are not high enough • (Common Core: The Great Debate, 2013). • 2.) States have individual learning standards which creates inconsistency • (Common Core State Standards Initiative, 2014). • 3.) There are no clear definitions of achievement • (Clearer and Higher: Why Students Need the Common Core, 2012).

4. References Clearer and Higher: Why Students Need the Common Core. 2012. YouTube. Retrieved April 18, 2014, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yll0fJrUAWE Common Core State Standards Initiative. 2014. Common Core State Standards Initiative. Retrieved April 21, 2014, from http://www.corestandards.org/ Common Core: The Great Debate. 2013. Cato Institute. Retrieved April 19, 2014, from http://www.cato.org/events/common-core-great-debate