This summer the state of Alabama is set to officially adopt the new nationwide standards on curriculum. You may ask what is the federal reasoning behind this? The United States has fallen behind many countries in our children's education. In fact we're down to 29th in the world in science, and so the U.S. is ready to raise the bar.
"We were tied to this minimum standard that the course of study gave us, and this is raising that minimum standard quite a bit," says Wesley Gordon, teacher resource coordinator of the Vestavia Hills School System.
The Vestavia Hills School System is already working towards changing the way children learn and what they learn with the new national standards.
"And that is really one of the goals of the new national standards is that every child will be workplace and college ready at the end of their high school years," says Cindy Adams, director of curriculum and instruction of the Vestavia Hills School System.
Adams and Gordon received the latest version of standards on Wednesday and met with teachers Thursday to start the conversation.
They say the new standards actually include covering fewer topics in a year, but on a more in depth level.
"We think that's better...to give the kids more of a chance to think more deeply about the concepts within a year," says Adams.
And it translates to major change for Alabama classrooms.
"The new kindergarten standard is that kids count one to 100 and be able to recite one to 100. In Alabama's course of study the standard is one to twenty," says Gordon.
"They're challenging every grade level to not only read on their grade level but to do what's called a 'stretch text,' where they'll begin to also read above their grade level," says Adams.
But, it's not all about learning material at a younger age. In Alabama, fractions are introduced in the second grade, now, it will be in the third grade, but with more time covering them.
It's up to each state to decide if it will conform. Texas and Alaska have said they will not adopt the national standards, but in doing so, have forfeited their eligibility for some federal funding and grants.
Adams and Gordon predict it will take several years to adjust to the new standards, but say they're up to the challenge and ready to make the grade.
