Common Core . . . How it Improves Education for Military Children!

07/01/2014 Published by: Suzanne

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Categories: Moving to a New School, Your Child's Ages & Stages, Student 2 Student Programs Worldwide, Special Topics

Consider the number of military-connected students in the United States.   (In 2011 the Department of Defense estimated that number to be 1.2 million!*)  Then consider how often those students move during their educational career (an average of 6 to 9 times before graduating from high school*).   Next consider that historically, states created their own standards, curriculum and assessments.  Keeping all of the above in mind, what might be the result . . . inconsistency?  Varying levels of quality? Repetition of things already learned? 

Moving alone is challenging enough for children with all of the changes involved . . . new surroundings, new home, new friends, etc.  A lack of clarity in the educational expectations of their school from one location to the next just adds to the anxiety that students and their parents already deal with.

In its May 12, 2014 article, “Better Serving the Children of Our Servicemen and Women”, the Center for American Progress discusses the reasons why the Common Core State Standards are a plus for military-connected students …

• Consistency in standards at each grade level
• More consistent level of quality
• Clearer expectations
• Ability to graduate on time as all requirements would be met

Representing the Military Child Education Coalition® (MCEC®)** in the article above, Cindy Simerly, Director of Marketing, states, “The structure of the [Common Core State] standards is vital for all students to be college and career ready, but it is especially critical for the highly mobile military-connected student.  The standards provide parents, students and educators with 21st century Math and English Language Arts guideposts to ensure our children’s future success and enhance our nation’s ability to compete in the global marketplace.”

For more on MCEC’s stance on these standards read our blog entry, “The MCEC® Position on Common Core State Standards”.

*U.S. Department of Defense Data Cited in Linked Article Above.

**SchoolQuest is an initiative of the Military Child Education Coalition® (MCEC®).

***Help us get the word out about SchoolQuest.org™ by liking us on Facebook!  SchoolQuest.org™ is an initiative of the Military Child Education Coalition® (MCEC®).   Follow us on the MCEC® Twitter feed . . . for the sake of the child!

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