Georgia teachers: Wording of Common Core works for us

The results of the survey, conducted this spring as part of a Common Core review ordered by Gov. Nathan Deal, run counter to one of the claims of Common Core critics, who have said teachers find the standards poorly written and confusing.

Two of Common Core's most persistent critics --- Richard L. Woods, the Republican candidate for Georgia school superintendent, and Tanya Ditty, state director of the conservative policy group Concerned Women for America --- both said they wanted to see the details of the survey. Both raised questions about the number of teachers surveyed.

The Middle Georgia Regional Educational Service Agency, one of 16 agencies set up to coordinate and promote Georgia Department of Education initiatives, surveyed a varying number of teachers on the standards being used in math and English/language arts in kindergarten through 12th grade.

Anywhere from 79.1 percent of analytic geometry teachers to 93.5 percent of first-grade English/language arts teachers said the standards tied to their courses are worded effectively.

Georgia has more than 100,000 teachers.

Woods said: "I have traveled thousands of miles during the course of the campaign and have spoken with numerous teachers from across the state. I have continued to hear concerns regarding the standards, the implementation, and the support being provided to our teachers."

Lillian Govus, spokeswoman for Woods' Democratic opponent, Valarie Wilson, said Wilson is hearing something different. "We've had many communications with teachers who are saying we need to stay the course with the standards," Govus said.

The service agency survey is only the most recent to indicate that Georgia teachers have warmed to Common Core. In surveys conducted last fall for the state Department of Education and for the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, large majorities of those polled backed the standards.