While the Kentucky Commissioner of Education takes shots at people who are starting to raise questions about the new Common Core State Standards (read near the bottom of his latest blog), it looks like the actual standards in Kentucky’s schools are declining.

The Courier-Journal’s May 23, 2013 editorial, “Scholarship shenanigans” bemoans a serious lowering of standards for grading in Bullitt County schools. Apparently, this is going on so students there can qualify for more taxpayer funded KEES scholarship money.

Bullitt’s students won’t improve any, but their KEES awards will increase because what formerly was only good enough to earn a “B” will now net an “A.” And so forth.

Most shocking, the Courier writes:

“If your son or daughter was failing with a 60 percent in Algebra II, no worry. That grade is now good enough to pass.” The Algebra II grades are supposed to be impacted in part by the new, Common Core State Standards aligned K-PREP End-of-Course test results. So, it looks like Bullitt County Schools have figured out how to manipulate the new, Common Core aligned tests, too.

By the way, the Courier says Bullitt County isn’t the only district playing the let’s-dumb-down-the-standards game. The newspaper reports that Shelby, Spencer and Henry counties already did similar.- Is this what we should expect when our school system tells us they are focusing on getting more kids better prepared for college and careers?- Is this respectful to our teachers?- Is this helping students?

May I suggest that Commissioner Holliday could spend a bit less time defending Common Core State Standards while other standards that actually count – and which now unfairly will cost taxpayers real money – are being undermined right underneath his nose.