The basic skills list: An influence on curriculum?

Abstract

The basic skills list, a list of minimum educational objectives, performance-based objectives list-whatever term your state uses, the meaning remains the same. And, as competency-based education continues its sweep across the country, more and more states will compile such lists. Whether professional educators support this movement is no longer relevant; as realists, we must face facts. Competency-based education is here to stay. And, while debate continues on issues such as the definition of basic skills, potential effectiveness of the competency education movement, and use of competency tests for graduation, state after state adopts lists of minimum educational objectives for reading and math.' It seems obvious, whatever the opinions of educators, that legislators are defining the elementary level basics as reading and math. How will the competency movement and the use of basic skills lists affect the elementary school curriculum?