By Jillian Farrel -- March 15, 2010
The Massachusetts State Education Department will not replace their standards with the national standards unless the national recommendations match the high levels in Massachusetts. The national standards, which were proposed last week, map out the English and math material that should be taught at each grade level among the nation's schools.
The standards have been under construction for more than a year. Though they are moving closer to the rigorous Massachusetts standards, Education Secretary Paul Reville believes the standards need to be strengthened in certain areas. Educational officials are still analyzing the national standards.
Massachusetts has strengthened its school systems since 1993 from the passage of the Education Reform Act to do just that.
The Pioneer Institute, a public policy research organization, believes the state would undue 17 years of hard work if it adopted the lowered National Standards. Jim Stergios of the organization said, "Massachusetts has the highest standards in the nation. Why would you want to change course."
However, the Obama administration is pushing for uniform standards, which is being led by the National Governors Association and the council of Chief State School Officers. Their goal is to quell an inequity in the American school system.
Adopting the standards would be voluntary. If the states across the country do not adopt the standards, they risk losing grant money for low-income students.
Trying to adopt new standards can be challenging in an ailing economy because it could require schools to purchase new textbooks and pay for additional training for teachers. It can also incite an overhaul of state's testing systems.
Anne Wass, president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, said "In principle, national standards make sense because a child in Mississippi deserves to be taught at the same level as a child in Massachusetts."
