Fourth in a series
Re “At Common Core’s Core, This Is a Test”
Unlike other school districts around Southern California, Culver City students did not try to drop out of the Common Core program during the term just completed, although several high school parents made inquiries.
“I have seen that elsewhere,” said Asst. Supt. Dr. Katie Krumpe. “But we are not finding that to be the case.
“We are trying to really educate our parents that if we use this information to better teach kids, that is our purpose.”
How does Dr. Krumpe measure the first year of Common Core?
“I need to get back data that says, as a district, how are we doing?” she said. “Or at a grade level, how are we doing?
“Without having that information back, I would be using anecdotal data to make decisions. Those are important” but not necessarily determinative.
To be more specific, Dr. Krumpe says that she can stroll into a classroom “and know whether good instruction is happening. But that does not tell me if kids are really learning.”
The gathering of data, says Dr. Krumpe, “will help us decide where to put our resources. Do we need additional assistance at a grade level or with a specific subject?
“Where do we need to focus on training? What kind of materials do we look for to buy to help kids with regard to where they are struggling? We need data to do that.”
