February 2 2024- The author, a co-author of the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts (ELA), reflects on the unintended consequences of the standards’ implementation. While the standards aimed to identify the progression of skills and competencies students should master, they inadvertently led to a focus on standards alignment rather than the actual teaching of ELA. Many curricula, in response to this, centered around content-agnostic, skill-based activities, overlooking the importance of engaging and meaningful instruction. The author argues for a reevaluation of the curriculum and a shift toward a more balanced approach that incorporates both standards and thoughtful, content-rich instruction.
