Iowa Core Discussion

Students will receive statuses of "beginning," "developing," "secure" or "exceeds" in 10 to 12 objectives - or standards - per subject instead of traditional letter grades.

"It's a very emotional topic," Reeves said. "A big thing is it's not standards versus grades. It's, 'Are we giving parents and students better information to improve their performance?' "

It's critical that before you move students on in their learning, you actually know what it is that they have control of and at what level," he said. "This method does that."

2.  The Iowa Core Curriculum doesn’t just set standards. Director Glass said, “On your point regarding the Iowa Core, I think it’s the state’s responsibility to set the bar for schools to achieve and then allow districts to determine how they get there.”  The problem with this is that the Iowa Core does tell districts how to get there.  Not only that, but the curriculum is problematic how it presents certain topics and what it leaves out – it is rife with bias and indoctrination. Not only that there was hardly any opportunity for educators and citizens to weigh in on its content and direction.  There is a white paper written on the subject and I would encourage Director Glass to read it.  I understand that he is new to his position, but I think he has an understanding of the Iowa Core that isn’t accurate.

H.F. 45 17. CORE CURRICULUM AND CAREER INFORMATION AND 1 DECISION-MAKING SYSTEM 2 For purposes of implementing the statewide core curriculum 3 for school districts and accredited nonpublic schools and a 4 state-designated career information and decision-making system: 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1,901,556 6 75,556

The funding for implementation of the statewide core 16 curriculum for schools and for the career information and 17 decision-making system are eliminated and legislative intent is 18 stated for amending the law relating to the curriculum.

What I will say is that any comparison of the Iowa Core to the Common Core is not an apples-to-apples comparison. The Iowa Core is not standards and benchmarks and has never pretended to be.