Rowman & Littlefield Publishers The Wrong Direction for Today's Schools: The Impact of Common Core on American Education

The Wrong Direction for Today's Schools: The Impact of Common Core on American Education is an in-depth analysis of the newest national American education fad, intended to replace the 2002 incarnation of the ESEA, No Child Left Behind. Zarra delves into the "seeds" that produced the Common Core Standards, as well as the groups involved in the political and corporate pressure to completely revamp America's K-16 education system. The author lays out a strong case for political motives involving the advancement for nationalized education, such as those found in select European and Asian nations. Zarra also follows the funding and provides solid documentation and analysis of international and national assessments, and how the funding and assessments proved pivotal in the overhaul of American education. After an analysis of the underpinnings of the Common Core Standards, Zarra critiques the myths and facts of the Common Core, and balances these with the emerging realities impacting average Americans and their families. Zarra's book is a must-read and will prove to be extremely useful to all who are concerned about public, private, and homeschool education in America. Review "An incisive analysis of the fallacies of the Common Core with abundant evidence and convincing arguments. A must-read for all who care about our children's future."--Yong Zhao Ph.D., Foundations Distinguished Professor, University of Kansas, author of "Counting What Counts: Reframing Education Outcomes"," Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Dragon: Why China has the Best (and worst) Education in the World", and more. The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are the latest educational reform intended to 'save' K-12 education in the US. Zarra examines some of the politically motivated reasons the CCSS were promulgated and how certain interested corporate groups have sought to influence K-12 education for their own benefit. The book examines the origins of Common Core; how assessments have spurred the calls for change; what is necessary to prepare 21st-century students for college or careers; the funding behind the Common Core initiative; the economic incentives given to states that adopted the CCSS; the CCSS standards themselves; CCSS myths, facts, and realities; and CCSS considerations, constituencies, and competition. Zarra is convincing in arguing for the need to understand CCSS's failure to improve children's educational paths, especially as the US Congress is considering the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Providing a balanced and nuanced overview of the CCSS, this [is a] thoughtful, well-written study. . . .Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals; general readers.--CHOICE Dr. Zarra is passionate about exposing the fallacies of the Common Core to the public. The Common Core rhetoric is the latest in a series of politically motivated bite-sized catch-phrases whose intent and outcomes actually undermine American creativity and respect for diversity of talent and choice. Do we really want all the chocolates in the candy box to be the same? Let's leave the educating to the professionals, not to politically appointed automatons. This is a must read.--Dr. Sheryl Santos-Hatchett, Founding Dean, School of Education and Human Services, University of North Texas at Dallas The Wrong Direction for Today's Schools: The Impact of Common Core on American Education, by Dr. Ernie Zarra, will be extremely useful to all those interested in improving public education in this country. The structure of his book leads the reader into a deeper understanding of the issues concerning Common Core's standards. The chapters are heavily documented and readers are encouraged to delve into the material, as well as pursue independent research. Dr. Zarra's book is also timely. As Congress tries to develop new language and new ideas for a re-authorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act