Common Core – a unifying force or another educational policy hoop to jump through? As districts in adoption states begin the implementation process, it seems as though the camps are becoming more divided. Those in favor are promoting classroom successes and hope for future collaborative efforts. Those who are against cite many reasons, the loudest being the concern about federal control of schools and insufficient evidence regarding the potential for positive impact on student achievement. So who is right? Are those states who are knee-deep in implementation headed toward disaster, or will those holdouts and naysayers be won over as the process continues? I, for one, will continue to champion the Common Core/Jessica Keigan, IdahoED News. More here.

Question: I need to get up to speed on Common Core. Do you consider it a unifying force -- or something sinister?