1. What Every Parent Needs to Know Oldham County Schools Fall 2011

2. Today… Why are things changing? What is changing? What are the school district and schools doing in response to these changes? How will these changes impact my child? Presenters: Ms. Anita Davis, Asst. Supt. Dr. Charleen McAuliffe, Deputy Supt.

3. Why are things changing? If you were a KY legislator and saw the following, what might you assume or conclude? ACT data for KY students  40% met college ready expectations for reading  16% met college readiness for science  Less than 21% met readiness for college-level algebra The number of students needing non-credit remedial courses in college has increased over the past decade. The number of students who cannot use their KEES money in the second year of college has been around 50% for a few years. They cannot use the KEES because they cannot maintain the g.p.a. required.

4. Why are things changing? Readiness is a major concern. Not just for college…for career, too.

6. What is changing? Everything Academic standards for all subject areas Assessments used to gauge students’ levels of skill and knowledge acquisition Accountability system- from district to school level Teacher and administrator evaluation system

7. Click on Unbridled Learning for the latest on SB1 and changes in KY education. Address: www.education.ky.govwww.education.ky.gov

8. What is changing? Academic standards for all subject areas Assessments used to gauge students’ levels of skill and knowledge acquisition Accountability system- from district to school level Teacher and administrator evaluation system

9. What is changing? Academic standards- grade level expectations of what students need to learn in a subject area Example: Kindergarten math standards handout

10. Revisions of Standards- Mandated by SB1 Mandated Criteria To meet the needs of 21 st century learners in a global society To prepare students for college and/or career Be fewer, clearer, higher

11.  Revisions of Standards  KY utilized the work of the national Common Core Standards project adopting the English Language Arts/Literacy and Math standards in their entirety.  Our new standards are referred to as Kentucky Core Academic Standards (KCAS).  Forty-four states have adopted these same standards.( KY was the first state to adopt them.) For more, visit www.corestandards.org www.corestandards.org

12.  Revisions of Standards  Implementation of the Math and English Language Arts/Literacy standards begins this year. Our spring state tests will be aligned to these new standards.  New standards are coming for other subject areas over the course of the next two years. KY will utilize the work of the national organizations when developing new standards.

13.  Revisions of Standards  Math  Most would argue that standards are more rigorous  Less spiral…emphasis on less but to depth  Algebra I…names the same, but content changing  Major shifts in what was traditionally taught when

14.  Revisions of Standards  English/Language Arts  Emphasis on informational reading and argumentative writing (i.e., writing using evidence to support reasoning)  Emphasis on increasing student proficiency with more complex readings  Language skills (mechanics, grammar) emphasized  Shared responsibility for literacy by ELA and other content teachers

15. Today… Why are things changing? What is changing? What are the school district and schools doing in response to these changes? How will these changes impact my child?

16. What we are doing  Training….addressing learning curve for staff  Changing curriculum  Changing course offerings  Identifying and addressing gaps between old and new standards

17. Today… Why are things changing? What is changing? What are the school district and schools doing in response to these changes? How will these changes impact my child?

18.  Better preparation for postsecondary/career  More rigorous experience in mathematics K-12  More application of math concepts as well as emphasis on understanding (in addition to execution of skill)  Increase in informational reading and argumentative writing (versus fictional writing)  Emphasis on more complex readings  New assessments both at local and state level

19. www.pta.org/common_core_state_standards.asp Click here to find parent grade level guides.

20. Local Assessments…OCS Emphasis  Using “transfer tasks” to assess whether students can apply math in non-routine, real world situations. Can they transfer what they have learned to new situations and solve problems on their own? Do they really understand the math concepts?

21. Equipping each student with the understandings, knowledge and skills to solve problems that we don’t even know are problems yet using technologies that haven’t been invented yet.

23. Terms Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA)- overhauled educational system in late 1980’s and has guided all facets of teaching and learning until recently Senate Bill 1 (SB1)- revision of KERA recently enacted by KY legislators impacting academic standards, accountability, assessment, and other areas of KY education

24. To learn more: Senate Bill 1 (SB1)- www.education.ky.gov (Look for Unbridled Spirit logo on left-hand column of Department of Ed page.) Common Core Standards-www.corestandards.org Math and English Language Arts standards as well as background information regarding the project National PTA-www.pta.org/common_core_state_standards.asp Parents’ Guide to Student Success