I'd disagree that it's a list of facts; the high school modeling standards are skills. I've read some good discussions of whether the earlier-year standards are useful for their age groups and am not sure (I think they're pretty reasonable). The high school modeling and geometry components are great.
But what does Common Core have to do with graph theory not being taught in elementary school? It never has been, and not because of new standards. It's not taught because too many teachers don't know it, and because too many "administrators, test writers, and standards-compliance checkers" have their noses where they shouldn't! It is terrible that in the US we have this attitude that teachers must be told exactly what to teach and when. We have it because we don't trust teachers, and swapping out NCTM standards for Common Core standards doesn't change that.
The modeling standard is, I feel, the most honest part of the standards. I'm arguing that if someone tried to teach graph theory as part of, say, modeling (which it is by all means), then they would see blowback from the people that make sure teachers are working toward meeting the standards.
But what does Common Core have to do with graph theory not being taught in elementary school? It never has been, and not because of new standards. It's not taught because too many teachers don't know it, and because too many "administrators, test writers, and standards-compliance checkers" have their noses where they shouldn't! It is terrible that in the US we have this attitude that teachers must be told exactly what to teach and when. We have it because we don't trust teachers, and swapping out NCTM standards for Common Core standards doesn't change that.