Local school district supports common core

Once again, common core math is up for debate. This week, state representative Ron Nate of Rexburg introduced legislation to the House Education Committee to repeal Idaho’s education core standards, including common core.

A “Buck the Core”, or anti-common core rally was held at the statehouse at the same time Nate announced he would be filing for the repeal. Among those who attended the rally were representatives from a few school districts around the state, opposing common core.

But the Pocatello/Chubbuck school district said it hasn’t seen any problems with common core and it wouldn’t be on the opposing side.

“Pocatello/Chubbuck school district supports the rigor of the Idaho core standards,” said Chuck Orr, Director of Curriculum for the district. “We are into our fourth year of implementation of the standards. We’ve had two testing cycles and our data shows that we made a fairly significant improvement.”

Data from ISAT testing the last two years shows an increase in math performance for all grades – 3rd through 10th. The highest increase was in the fifth grade, with an 11% increase. Tenth grade was the second highest improvement at 10% and 7th grade finished off the top three with an 8% improvement.

State-wide numbers also showed an increase from the previous year.

A well-known nationwide opponent of common core, Duke Pesta, voiced concerns to the state legislature this week. He said common core is lowering the number of students enrolled in calculus courses because they don’t get to that level. He also argued that common core is “dumbing students down” because it lowers the level and pushes algebra back in their academic careers. So he said that is slowing students’ progress.

But Orr said they haven’t seen any of those effects happening locally. They haven’t seen a decrease in the number of students enrolling in higher math courses. He said both teachers and students have adjusted to common core well the last few years and the school district is seeing success with it in math.

“Just the ability to see the actual application of mathematics in the real world, a lot more problem solving and critical thinking,” Orr said. “Those are things that we want from our students in college and the workforce.”

Orr said one thing the district has been discussing for quite awhile is the sequence in which math classes are taken. Orr said starting next year, the district has decided to change the order the classes are taken.So instead of the traditional Algebra 1, Geometry then Algebra 1, the district will have integrated math classes. Orr said this will allow principles of all math to be taught cohesively at the same time, rather than as individual and isolated courses. There will be various levels of integrated math courses, with different principles of math taught in each.

Orr said that change will go into effect starting for the 2017-2018 school year.