Who Wrote the Common Core?

February 15, 2013 14 Comments

I have copied the names of the people involved in writing, giving feedback and validating the Common Core Math Standards released by the non-profit, DC based Achieve, who developed them and is leading the new PARCC consortium to create a student test which will replace IStep.

There is not ONE person from Indiana. I am not sure how the Indiana State Board of Education keeps repeating the same lies about Indiana’s lead in developing the standards. This was not state-led, just look at the list.

Mathematics Working Group:

Beth Aune 

Director of Academic Standards and P-16 Initiatives

Minnesota Department of Education

Deborah Loewenberg Ball 

Dean, School of Education

University of Michigan

Nancy Beben

Director, Curriculum Standards

Louisiana Department of Education

Sybilla Beckmann 

Professor of Mathematics

University of Georgia

Stacey Caruso-Sharpe 

Mathematics Teacher, Lynch Literacy Academy

Board of Directors, New York State United Teachers

Vice President, American Federation of Teachers

Diana Ceja

Teacher on Assignment

Garey High School

Pomona, California

Marta Civil 

Professor

The University of Arizona

Douglas H. Clements 

SUNY Distinguished Professor

University at Buffalo, The State University of New York

Department of Learning and Instruction, Graduate School of Education

Thomas Coy

Public School Program Advisor

Arkansas Department of Education

Phil Daro (Writer) 

America’s Choice

Strategic Education Research Partnerships

Ellen Delaney 

Associate Principal

Spring Lake Park High School

Spring Lake Park, Minnesota

Susan Eddins 

Faculty Emerita, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy

Educational Consultant

Wade Ellis 

Mathematics Instructor, Retired

West Valley College

Francis (Skip) Fennell 

Professor, Education Department

McDaniel College

Past-President, NCTM

Bradford R. Findell 

Mathematics Initiatives Administrator

Ohio Department of Education

Sol Garfunkel 

Executive Director

COMAP, the Consortium for Mathematics and Its Applications

Dewey Gottlieb

Education Specialist for Mathematics

Hawaii Department of Education

Lawrence Gray 

Professor of Mathematics

University of Minnesota

Kenneth I. Gross

Professor of Mathematics and Education

University of Vermont

Denny Gulick 

Professor of Mathematics

University of Maryland

Roger Howe

Wm. Kenan Jr. Professor of Mathematics 

Yale University

Deborah Hughes Hallett

Professor of Mathematics

University of Arizona

Adjunct Professor of Public Policy

Harvard Kennedy School

Linda Kaniecki 

Mathematics Specialist

Maryland State Department of Education

Mary Knuck 

Deputy Associate Superintendent

Standards-Based Best Practices

Arizona Department of Education

Barbara J. Libby

STEM Director

Office for Mathematics, Science and Technology/Engineering

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

James Madden 

Professor of Mathematics

Louisiana State University

Bernard L. Madison 

Professor of Mathematics

University of Arkansas

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William McCallum (Writer and Project Lead, Mathematics) 

Head, Department of Mathematics

The University of Arizona

Senior Consultant to Achieve

Ken Mullen

Senior Mathematics Program Development Associate

ACT

Chuck Pack

National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT)

Mathematics Department Chair

Mathematics Curriculum Coordinator

Tahlequah Public Schools District

Board of Directors, Oklahoma Education Association

Becky Pittard

National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT)

Pine Trail Elementary School

Volusia County Schools, Florida

Barbara J. Reys

Lois Knowles Distinguished Professor of Mathematics Education

University of Missouri – Columbia

Katherine Richard

Associate Director, Mathematics Programs

Lesley University

Deb Romanek 

Director, Mathematics Education

Nebraska Department of Education

Bernadette Sandruck 

Professor & Division Chair

Mathematics

Howard Community College

Columbia, Maryland

Richard Scheaffer

Professor Emeritus

University of Florida

Andrew Schwartz

Assessment Manager

Research & Development

The College Board

Rick Scott 

P-20 Policy and Programs

New Mexico Department of Higher Education

Carolyn Sessions 

Standards and Curriculum Projects Coordinator

Louisiana Department of Education

Laura McGiffert Slover 

Vice President, Content and Policy Research

Achieve

Douglas Sovde 

Senior Associate, Mathematics

Achieve

Sharyn Sweeney

Mathematics Standards and Curriculum Coordinator

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Mary Jane Tappen 

Deputy Chancellor for Curriculum, Instruction and Student Services

Florida Department of Education

Mark Thames

Assistant Research Scientist

School of Education

University Michigan

Patrick Thompson 

Professor of Mathematics Education

School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences

Arizona State University

Donna Watts 

Coordinator for Mathematics and STEM Initiatives

Maryland State Department of Education

Kerri White

Executive Director of High School Reform

Oklahoma State Department of Education

Vern Williams

Mathematics Teacher

H.W. Longfellow Middle School

Fairfax County, Virginia

Hung-Hsi Wu

Professor of Mathematics, Emeritus

Department of Mathematics

University of California- Berkeley

Susan Wygant 

Mathematics Specialist

Minnesota Department of Education

Jason Zimba (Writer)

Faculty Member

Mathematics and Physics

Bennington College

Co-founder, Student Achievement Partners

Mathematics Feedback Group

Richard Askey

Professor Emeritus of Mathematics

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Hyman Bass 

Samuel Eilenberg Distinguished University Professor of Mathematics and

Mathematics Education

University of Michigan

Elaine Carman

Middle School Math Instructional Specialist

Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Office of Curriculum, Standards and Academic Engagement

New York City Department of Education

Andrew Chen 

President

EduTron Corporation

Miguel Cordero

Secondary Math Instructional Specialist

Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Office of Curriculum, Standards and Academic Engagement

New York City Department of Education

Linda Curtis-Bey 

Past Director

Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Office of Curriculum, Standards and Academic Engagement

New York City Department of Education

John A. Dossey 

Distinguished University Professor of Mathematics Emeritus

Illinois State University

Scott Eddins

Tennessee Mathematics Coordinator

President

Association of State Supervisors of Mathematics (ASSM)

Lisa Emond 

Elementary Math Instructional Specialist

Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Office of Curriculum, Standards and Academic Engagement

New York City Department of Education

Karen Fuson 

Professor Emerita

Northwestern University

Sandra Jenoure 

Early Childhood Math Instructional Specialist

Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Office of Curriculum, Standards and Academic Engagement

New York City Department of Education

Tammy Jones 

Content Editor

Tennessee Standards Committee

(continues on next page)

Suzanne Lane

Professor

Research Methodology Program

School of Education

University of Pittsburgh

Fabio Milner 

Director

Mathematics for STEM Education

School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences

Arizona State University

Jodie Olivo 

5th Grade Teacher

Nathanael Greene Elementary School

Pawtucket School Department

North Providence, Rhode Island

Roxy Peck 

Associate Dean and Professor of Statistics

College of Science and Mathematics

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

John Santangelo 

New England Laborers’/Cranston Public Schools Construction Career

Academy,

American Federation of Teachers

Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals

Cranston Teachers’ Alliance

Wilfried Schmid

Professor of Mathematics

Harvard University

Ronald Schwarz

High School Math Instructional Specialist

Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Office of Curriculum, Standards and Academic Engagement

New York City Department of Education

Matthew Ting

Mathematics Instructional Coach

Los Angeles Unified School District

Uri Treisman

Professor of Mathematics and of Public Affairs

Executive Director

Charles A. Dana Center

The University of Texas at Austin

W. Stephen Wilson 

Professor of Mathematics

Department of Mathematics

Johns Hopkins University

Common Core State Standards Initiative Validation Committee

Bryan Albrecht

President

Gateway Technical College

Kenosha, Wisconsin

Arthur Applebee 

Distinguished Professor

Center on English Learning & Achievement

School of Education

University at Albany, SUNY

Sarah Baird 

2009 Arizona Teacher of the Year

K-5 Math Coach

Kyrene School District

Jere Confrey 

Joseph D. Moore Distinguished University Professor

William and Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation

College of Education

North Carolina State University

David T. Conley (Co-Chair) 

Professor

College of Education

University of Oregon

CEO, Educational Policy Improvement Center

Linda Darling-Hammond 

Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education

Stanford University

Alfinio Flores 

Hollowell Professor of Mathematics Education

University of Delaware

Brian Gong (Co-Chair) 

Executive Director

Center for Assessment

Kenji Hakuta 

Lee L. Jacks Professor of Education

Stanford University

Kristin Buckstad Hamilton 

Teacher

Battlefield Senior High School

National Education Association

Feng-Jui Hsieh 

Associate Professor of the Mathematics Department

National Taiwan Normal University

Mary Ann Jordan

Teacher

New York City Department of Education

American Federation of Teachers

Jeremy Kilpatrick 

Regents Professor of Mathematics Education

University of Georgia

Dr. Jill Martin

Principal

Pine Creek High School

Barry McGaw 

Professor and Director of Melbourne Education Research Institute

University of Melbourne

Director for Education

OECD

James Milgram 

Professor Emeritus

Stanford University

David Pearson 

Professor and Dean

Graduate School of Education

University of California, Berkeley

Steve Pophal 

Principal

DC Everest Junior High

Stanley Rabinowitz 

Senior Program Director

Assessment and Standards Development Services

WestEd

Lauren Resnick

Distinguished University Professor

Psychology and Cognitive Science

Learning Sciences and Education Policy

University of Pittsburgh

Andreas Schleicher 

Head, Indicators and Analysis Division

OECD Directorate for Education

William Schmidt 

University Distinguished Professor

Michigan State University

Catherine Snow 

Henry Lee Shattuck Professor of Education

Harvard Graduate School of Education

Christopher Steinhauser 

Superintendent of Schools

Long Beach Unified School District

Sandra Stotsky

Professor of Education Reform

21st Century Chair in Teacher Quality

University of Arkansas

(continues on next page)

Dorothy Strickland 

Samuel DeWitt Proctor Professor of Education, Emerita

Distinguished Research Fellow

National Institute for Early Education Research

Rutgers, The State University of NJ

Martha Thurlow

Director

National Center on Educational Outcomes

University of Minnesota

Norman Webb 

Senior Research Scientist, Emeritus

Wisconsin Center for Education Research

University of Wisconsin

Dylan William 

Deputy Director

Institute of Education

University of London

 

Comments (14)

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  1. Heather says:

    I’d like to know who is writing the Social Study standards? Can you find their names??

    Heather

    • Erin Tuttle says:

      We have tried. They are not released to the public and are being done behind closed doors. They will eventually come out with a draft and the names will likely be released after the fact, as they did with English and Math. If it is currently released to the public, I have not seen it.

    • Eric says:

      What Social Studies Standards?

      AFAIK, there’s non-fiction social studies connections for Common Core ELA.

      There’s also a social studies framework.

      Any Common Core Social Studies is news to me–tell me more, please!

      • Erin Tuttle says:

        Have you seen the social studies framework that is not related to the ELA standards? I have not been able to review them or find them on a public site.

  2. Kathy Lin Eggleston says:

    To answer your question of how Indiana is involved Tom Luna has said that individuals from Idiana and Florida, among others were at this gathering he has started talking about. I would love to see what information you have on this!
    Supt Luna: I just wanted to start by letting you know my involvement in the standards. I became involved back in 2007 when a small group of state education chiefs met and discussed the need for higher academic standards across all states. We all faced the same challenge: while students did well in grades K-12, too many students were graduating our high schools unprepared for the rigors of postsecondary education or the workplace. We decided to work together, as states, to develop higher standards in the core areas of mathematics and English language arts. We agreed it had to be state-led and voluntary with no involvement from the federal government. This came to be known as the Common Core State Standards.

    • Erin Tuttle says:

      I do not see Tom Luna’s name on the official list of those who were involved in the process. This link will take you to the NGA’s own website who credits the official writing, feedback and validation teams for CC. http://www.nga.org/files/live/sites/NGA/files/pdf/2010COMMONCOREK12TEAM.PDF

      There was a push for national history standards in 1995 that went through Congress and was defeated 99-1. They learned that if you want to push national standards you can’t call them national or federal, don’t do it through Congress, and start with less controversial subjects like math and English. Achieve is the lead agency on the CC standards. While the NGA and CCSSo have official sounding names, neither has a grant of authority from the state and thus, can’t act as an agent of the state- not state led.

      If I find more, I’ll post it.

  3. Kathy Lin Eggleston says:

    This would be even before that happened.
    Superintendent Luna stated that a few years ago, there was an impromptu discussion about common achievement standards among states. NCLB required state-standards, but they were only state-wide not nation-wide. The consensus was that this has to be a state-led effort, not a federal mandate; it would be voluntary for state participation; and there needs to be a focus on two subjects (Reading/Language Usage and Math). They decided it would be best if the NGA was involved. There was a meeting in Chicago, IL—41 states showed up. The expectation when the standards were developed was that they would be higher, fewer and clearer. If students met these standards upon graduation they would not need remedial classes or training when they got to college or the workforce. It is Superintendent Luna’s belief that 40 states have adopted these; 2 years ago Idaho signed an MOU, with the understanding that these standards are not mandatory.
    The State Board of Education and colleges see these as college-ready standards, and businesses in Idaho have agreed that these are career-ready standards. Page 35
    page 37
    http://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2011/standingcommittees/sedmin.pdfv

  4. Kathy Lin Eggleston says:

    Superintendent Tom Luna of Idaho wrote: “This information is posted in our “Process” timeline online at http://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/ICS/. I was at a meeting with other state chiefs as part of the Council of Chief State School Officers back in 2007 when we started the discussion. We kept it going and invited any other states who were interested in joining us in a state-led, voluntary effort to attend a meeting in April 2009. After that, we formed the Memorandum of Agreement among states to develop the standards, which is also posted on our website.”

    Since 2007, NGA, CCSSO(Council of Chief State School Officers), and Achieve accepted more than $27 million from the Gates Foundation alone to advance the Standards and the connected data-collection and assessments.” http://www.c-span.org/Events/Education-Sec-Arne-Duncan-interviewed-by-Libby-Quaid-AP-and-Michele-McNeil-Education-Week/12961/ (accessed 4/22/2013)

    • Erin Tuttle says:

      Please see Joy Pullman’s article titled, Five People Wrote the “State-led” Common Core.

      “While many people sat on these various committees, only one in sixty was a classroom teacher, according to teaching coach and blogger Anthony Cody. All of the standards writing and discussions were sealed by confidentiality agreements, and held in private. While Linn says six states sent intensive teacher and staff feedback, committee members weren’t sure what effect their advice had, said Mark Bauerlein, an Emory University professor who sat on a feedback committee.

      “I have no idea how much influence committee members had on final product. Some of the things I advised made their way into the standards. Some of them didn’t. I’m not sure why or how,” he said. He said those who would know were the standards’ lead writers: David Coleman and Susan Pimentel in English, and Jason Zimba, Phil Daro, and William McCallum in math. Of these, only McCallum had previous experience writing standards.”

  5. Kathy Lin Eggleston says:

    Just read it! All I can see is that the stories do not match. They just keep hammering away to prove thier innocence with words like “state-led,” “voluntary effort” and “not federally mandated.!” Makes me think of a famous line from Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”, Act III, Scene 2, “The lady doth protest too much, methinks”.

    • Erin Tuttle says:

      The first words out of a Common Core supporter’s mouth is that they are “state-led and voluntary.” It does get quite annoying. They rely on the low-information parent and superintendents to keep it going. There is so much evidence against them but they keep chugging along. No worries, the truth still matters in America. we just have to keep it up!

  6. Dan Schmitt says:

    I’m late to this conversation but very interested in the new Common Core standards. If only five people (Coleman, Pimental, Zimba, Daro, McCallum) were responsible for writing the standards, who chose them for the task? Also and more importantly, what did the writers use to formulate all the grade level (K-12) standards? They certainly didn’t reinvent the standards wheel!

    • Erin Tuttle says:

      Very good questions and ones many have been trying to answer. While no individuals have been named as the official group that nominated these writers, it is conceivable they were chosen by Achieve, Inc., the non-profit group who was in charge of the standards. In the beginning of the process, these writers were kept confidential. Only after several months had gone by did they release their names. The discussions and deliberations of the writing groups was confidential. We can’t find out why certain standards were included or excluded. They all signed a confidentiality agreement with the owners of the copyright on the standards, which is the National Governors Association and the Chief Council of State School Officers. Because these are private trade associations, Sunshine Laws or Freedom of Information Acts don’t apply to them. The process of developing these standards did not follow civic procedures and that is a chief complaint among those opposing them. For more info see: http://whatiscommoncore.wordpress.com/2013/09/07/notre-dame-conference-address-of-dr-sandra-stotsky-common-cores-invalid-validation-committee/

      According to their website, they looked at all the states’ standards, international standards and a list of research papers. Although, the standards writers have never mentioned which state or which international countries to which they are benchmarked.

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