Want to comment on Common Core? Today’s the deadline

If you still want to weigh in on the state’s new language-arts and math standards for schools, you have until the end of the day today to do so.

That’s the deadline for public comment on the Common Core standards that Florida adopted in 2010 but decided to review this year.

The Common Core comment tally is at nearly 13,000, according to the Florida Department of Education.

Many of the online comments are from teachers, and many of them seem to like Common Core.

“Extremely necessary for success in college, careers, and life in general,” one wrote.

But plenty of critics have weighed in, too. “Standards are too broad and border on educational malpractice,” wrote a parent.

To submit a comment, go to flstandards.org. Comments can be left up until midnight.

At the request of Gov. Rick Scott, the education department has been taking comments on the standards online and also held three public hearings earlier this month.

The comments will be reviewed and some preliminary information about the public’s thoughts is to presented to the State Board of Education next month. The board, which adopted the standards in July 2010, has voiced strong support for Common Core but could modify the standards if education department staff suggest changes.

The standards, adopted by 45 states, are benchmarks for what students should learn in math, reading and writing from kindergarten to 12th grade. Florida is phasing them in and plans to have them fully in place by the 2014-15 school year.

Advocates say they will improve public education by demanding more of students. They argue the newstandards will do more to prepare students for college or decent-paying jobs.

Critics doubt the standards are better than Florida’s old ones and dislike how the federal government has encouraged — some argued coerced — states to adopt them, among other criticisms.