I’ve been researching and learning about the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) since their introduction in June of 2010. Like many Administrators, I was wary about the idea of adding another major change into our lives and to our already stressed system. There is no doubt that change is difficult and that we’ve had a tsunami of it in the last five years - but I honestly believe that the CCSS are a positive step in the right direction.

Key Reasons:

The House Education Committee heard its first round of testimony this week on a pair of bills that would make damaging changes to the Michigan Merit Curriculum (MMC). The committee heard from speakers on both sides of the issue and is expected to have at least 2 more weeks of hearings. It is crucial that MASSP members contact their lawmakers in support of the MMC and opposed to this legislation.

The House Education Committee took their first testimony this week on a pair of bills that would make significant and damaging changes to the Michigan Merit Curriculum. The bill sponsors asserted that changes to the MMC are necessary to allow students to participate in career and technical education (CTE). State Superintendent Mike Flanagan spoke in opposition to the changes and explained to the committee that the flexibility the bills' sponsors were advocating is already in place in the current law.

The Senate Appropriations K-12, School Aid and Education Subcommittee put out their School Aid budget recommendation on Wednesday. The biggest changes were the elimination of some big-ticket categorical line items in favor of increases to the foundation allowance plus additional equity payments to districts at the minimum foundation allowance.

On Tuesday, April 9, the final Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), a new set of rigorous and internationally benchmarked standards for K-12 science education, were released.