COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS INITIATIVE

February 20102010 NROC Member Meeting

1

Overview of the Initiative2

State-led and developed common core standards for K-12 in English language arts and math that can be adopted by states

To maintain the integrity of the common core, on-going and regular revisions and adjustments will be necessary

www.corestandards.org

Why is this important now?

Disparate standards across states States are ready and able for collective action

Global competition – Lessons learned from other nations

Today’s jobs require different skills Supportive political climate

Why is this good for students, educators, & states?

Prepares students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in college and careers

Ensures consistent expectations regardless of student’s zip code

Provides educators clear, focused guideposts

Offers economies of scale – instructional resources, professional development, delivery systems

What momentum is there for the initiative?

48 states, D.C., and 2 territories have signed on to the Common Core State Standards Initiative process

Overview: Standards Criteria6

• Fewer, clearer, and higher• Aligned with college and work expectations• Include rigorous content and application of

knowledge through high-order skills• Build upon strengths and lessons of current

state standards• Internationally benchmarked, so that all

students are prepared to succeed in our global economy and society

• Must be evidence and/or research based

7

Process Overviewhttp://www.corestandards.org/Files/CCSSIProcess.pdf

K-12 Standards8

Multiple rounds of feedback from states and national organizations representing educators.

Based on feedback, work groups for ELA and math standards have been focusing on:

Design and presentation• Consistent numbering system• Clarity about what a standard is• Consistent grain size between ELA and math standards

Content• Clearer link to the College- and Career-Ready Standards• Grade-by-grade specificity• Brevity and focus • Learning progressions across grades

Public comment period slated to begin in mid-March.

Definition of Adoption9

100% of the common core K-12 standards in ELA and mathematics to be adopted within 3 years

Adoption of the common core either in its entirety or in its entirety with up to an additional 15% added (“85% rule”)

A state will have adopted when the standards authorizing body within the state has taken formal action to adopt and implement the common core.

States are responsible for demonstrating that they have adhered to this definition of adoption.

Common Standards - The First Step

The common core state standards are the first step in transforming our education system. For real systemic change to occur: Educators must be given resources, tools, and time to

adjust classroom practice. Instructional materials need to be developed that

align to the standards. Assessments must be developed to measure student

progress. Federal, state, and district policies will need to be

reexamined to ensure they support alignment of the common core state standards with student achievement.

10

How can this help change what happens in the classroom?

Educators will have more time to focus on depth of understanding and richer units of study.

Provides the opportunity for educators to tailor curricula and teaching methods to help all children reach the standards.

Allows for more targeted, useful pre-service and professional development

How can this change what happens in learning?

Ability to collaborate on instructional content, interventions, assessments - OER

Personalization at scale -A focus on outcomes opens door for mass customization of learning experience

Performance counts - Choice in how we learn, where we learn, and how we demonstrate learning

Credentialing that is transferable, translatableStudents advance through developmental sequences,

rather than through “courses” grouped by age and grade level

A new, more balanced and comprehensive approach to assessment

12

Next Generation System of Assessment

Address the depth and breadth of standards as well as all areas of the curriculum, not just those that are easy to measure (EdSteps)

Consider and include all students as an integral part of the design process - UDL

Honor the research indicating that students learn best when given challenging content and provided with assistance, guidance, and feedback on a regular basis

Employ multiple forms of assessment at the classroom, school, and district levels, as well as the state level - formative as well as summative measures

Engage teachers in scoring student work

13

Key Themes - Assessment

1) Guided by common standards and grounded in a thoughtful, standards-based curriculum

2) Measures include evidence of actual student performance on challenging tasks that evaluate applications of knowledge and skills.

3) Teachers are integrally involved in the development of curriculum and the development and scoring of assessment

4) Assessments structured to continuously improve teaching and learning.

14

Key Themes - Assessment

5) Assessment and accountability systems are designed to improve the quality of learning (vs. schooling)

6) Assessment and accountability systems use multiple measures to evaluate students and schools

7) New technologies enable greater assessment quality and information systems that support accountability

15