ExploRIII 2014 Volume 2 | Page 25

MYTH: The CCSS do not have enough 25 emphasis on fiction or literature. Local school districts determine what is read in each course. In fact, the R-III District adopts new textbooks as well as incorporates specific literature into the curriculum. These decisions are led by faculty, departments & administration at the local level. In fact, there will be no reduction in literacy content in the Lincoln County R-III School District. MYTH: CCSS are not research or evidence based. CCSS are comprised of scholarly research, surveys on what skills are required to enter the workforce and college, assessment data and comparisons from high performing states and nations. MYTH: The CCSS were developed quickly and with little public comment. The development process relied on teachers, experts from across the country, and feedback from key stakeholders and the general public. Nearly 10,000 comments were received in response to the draft standards, which are included in the final version. MYTH: The CCSS are a national curriculum. CCSS are foundational standards and goals for student learning in the areas of English Language Arts and Math. Standards outline the basics of what a student needs to know. Local districts, including Lincoln County R-III, determine how those standards will be met. Teachers will continue to devise lesson plans and tailor instruction to the individual needs of the students in their classrooms. MYTH: States using CCSS are collecting student identifiable data to create a national database. No data collection is required as part of the CCSS initiative. In fact, it is illegal for the federal government to collect any studentidentifiable data. MYTH: The CCSS cannot be influenced by the public because they are privately owned. CCSS are owned by the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). Both groups are accountable to the public. **Note: Missouri's Governor signed legislation (July 2014) to create a task force to write new education standards. Originally, the legislation was intended to ban the Common Core State Standards in Missouri. Until the new standards are developed by advisory committees and approved, Common Core State Standards will remain in place in Missouri.