This helps explain how Iowa went for Trump twice, elected Kim and Joni, as well as Ashley Hinson and MMM:
The Iowa Department of Education's civics and U.S. history standards are "inadequate," according to a new study by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute.
The State of State Standards for Civics and U.S. History in 2021, released Wednesday, "evaluates the quality of the K-12 civics and U.S. history standards" used in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. In Iowa, researchers reviewed the Department of Education's 2017 social studies standards, which cover kindergarten through 12th grade instruction. Researchers evaluated the standards for content, rigor, clarity and organization.
The Ohio-based Fordham Institute focuses on improving education.
Study co-author David Griffith, a senior research and policy associate at the Fordham Institute, said in an email that Iowa ranked in the bottom third of the states, receiving a D for its civics standards and an F for its U.S. history standards.
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Neighboring Wisconsin, Illinois and Nebraska were also among the 20 states with standards rated "inadequate." The states that ranked exemplary included Alabama, California, Massachusetts and Tennessee.
"Iowa’s current civics and U.S. history standards are inadequate ... and there is no discernible coverage of U.S. history at the K-8 level," the authors stated in the report.
A complete revision of the state's standards was recommended.
► More:Iowans could force school boards to hear curriculum concerns if the governor signs this education bill
Iowa's civics standards strengths included "careful attention to citizenship skills and dispositions from Kindergarten through fifth grade" and the intentional development of "critical thinking skills" in sixth- through 12th-grade students.
Weaknesses included the standards being too "broad and vague to provide useful guidance," a lack of standards for sixth-grade students, and standards for fifth-grade students that "fail to call attention to or develop Iowa's rich history of Civil Rights."
Weaknesses included the standards being "almost completely devoid of historical content," not providing direction for educators, and there being "no meaningful" U.S. history coverage before eighth grade.
Griffith offered some advice for improving Iowa's civics and U.S. history standards.
"Provide a more rigorous introduction to civics in elementary and middle school and ensure that students make at least one full pass through U.S. History prior to high school," he said in an email. "Organize the high school standards by course, and provide much more specific and detailed guidance in both subjects."
The Iowa Department of Education's civics and U.S. history standards are "inadequate," according to a new study by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute.
The State of State Standards for Civics and U.S. History in 2021, released Wednesday, "evaluates the quality of the K-12 civics and U.S. history standards" used in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. In Iowa, researchers reviewed the Department of Education's 2017 social studies standards, which cover kindergarten through 12th grade instruction. Researchers evaluated the standards for content, rigor, clarity and organization.
The Ohio-based Fordham Institute focuses on improving education.
Study co-author David Griffith, a senior research and policy associate at the Fordham Institute, said in an email that Iowa ranked in the bottom third of the states, receiving a D for its civics standards and an F for its U.S. history standards.
► More:Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signs law targeting critical race theory, saying she's against 'discriminatory indoctrination'
Neighboring Wisconsin, Illinois and Nebraska were also among the 20 states with standards rated "inadequate." The states that ranked exemplary included Alabama, California, Massachusetts and Tennessee.
"Iowa’s current civics and U.S. history standards are inadequate ... and there is no discernible coverage of U.S. history at the K-8 level," the authors stated in the report.
A complete revision of the state's standards was recommended.
► More:Iowans could force school boards to hear curriculum concerns if the governor signs this education bill
Civic rating
The authors broke down the issues it found with that state's civic standards into strengths and weaknesses.Iowa's civics standards strengths included "careful attention to citizenship skills and dispositions from Kindergarten through fifth grade" and the intentional development of "critical thinking skills" in sixth- through 12th-grade students.
Weaknesses included the standards being too "broad and vague to provide useful guidance," a lack of standards for sixth-grade students, and standards for fifth-grade students that "fail to call attention to or develop Iowa's rich history of Civil Rights."
U.S. history rating
The study noted the state's U.S. history standards demonstrated strength in their "reasonably strong emphasis on history related skills."Weaknesses included the standards being "almost completely devoid of historical content," not providing direction for educators, and there being "no meaningful" U.S. history coverage before eighth grade.
Griffith offered some advice for improving Iowa's civics and U.S. history standards.
"Provide a more rigorous introduction to civics in elementary and middle school and ensure that students make at least one full pass through U.S. History prior to high school," he said in an email. "Organize the high school standards by course, and provide much more specific and detailed guidance in both subjects."
New study gives Iowa failing grades for teaching standards in civics, U.S. history
The institute evaluated Iowa's teaching standards in civics and U.S. history. A Des Moines administrator praises the flexibility of Iowa's standards.
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