National Standards For College Readiness Gains Momentum

The Obama administration and the Gates Foundation are exploring national k-12 standards that will include college readiness. State k-12 standards are all over the map with some high and many low. So the interest grows in how to bring about a more uniform high level. But what should be the standard for college readiness and who should decide it? Some want  college readiness standards to be internationally based on OECD PiSA tests. Others want to use a consensus of college remediation cut scores, or base college readiness on what is expected in first year college courses. Some feel the NEW York Regents exams are close, but others say these exams do not have enough international flavor.

Even more problematic is who should decide national standards: Congress, a blue ribbon group, state consensus, or universities and colleges. Deciding what knowledge is most worth knowing to be successful in college is a political and technical process. Should OECD and Singapore Math be used , or should we convene college presidents? We are not very close to anwering all these questions , but at least in this round of k-12 standards setting college transition will not be ignored.