Unfortunately kids need to be tracked in math. Some need to learn how to get by and others would benefit from learning the the deeper underpinnings of a new language. Common Core apparently does neither and poorly at that.
Judging by the opposition of unionized teachers to Common Core, I’m in no rush to condemn it. While I’ve seen outrageous examples of what it taught, as a parent I understand it is replacing a system that teaches almost nothing. To me the most important thing is that it seems to provide an evaluation process that is completely lacking now; every parent is told their child is a great student and realizes the hard way that in fact many children aren’t being educated very much in any subject. My children have tales of receiving better grades for participating in canned food drives, and one says his teacher openly told them their grade was dependent solely on classroom behavior (as opposed to learning anything).
The current system is a joke, and I can’t believe ANYTHING isn’t an improvement.