Certain private schools in the Louisville region are taking a page from the public school system by implementing portions of the common core state standards.Kentucky was among the first states to adopt and implement the new standards unifying what students are expected to learn, which is why all but four states have conformed.The standards further decrease the content in classrooms but focus more in-depth on what’s being taught. That’s the primary reason why the Archdiocese of Louisville decided to implement the standards for its math curriculum, said superintendent Leisa Schulz.“We certainly want to continue to challenge our students, to challenge ourselves, increase the rigor that’s out there,” she said.Experts also say pressure from states—which are partly being encouraged to implement the standards with incentives—is another reason why some private schools are considering implementing the standards, according an Education Week article.Text book and test publishers are beginning to reflect the common core, which may eventually lead to reshaping college entrance exams, writes author Eric Robelen.Elements of the standards are showing up in several private school systems across the nation including more than 100 Roman Catholic dioceses and several other Christian school systems, according to the article.When the Archdiocese reviewed its math curriculum two years ago, Schulz said officials decided the common core standards offered the most competitive learning model.She further said they are the most widely recognized and best practice in education curriculum, and more educators and education businesses will be providing support in the future for the change in curriculum.“So they want to make sure that the materials they’re producing for students and for teachers are aligned with what the current best practice is,” she said.The Archdiocese of Louisville will review its English/language arts curriculum next and will likely adopt the common core standards again, said Schulz.The Archdiocese follows the Kentucky Department of Education’s curriculum as a guide, but makes adjustments to fit the church’s mission, she said.Louisville’s Christian Academy School System has also implemented the common core standards.
