1. Solanco School Board 9/9/2013

2. Common Core at Solanco  The Common Core Standards have been subject to criticism and controversy  We believe the new standards are better than the older PA Standards and will prove beneficial for Solanco students

3. What are the Common Core Standards? Mathematics PreK-12 English/Language Arts PreK-12 Reading for Science and Technical Subjects 6- 12 Writing for Science and Technical Subjects 6- 12 Reading for History and Social Studies 6-12 Writing for History and Social Studies 6-12

4. Who Developed the Common Core Standards? Common Core Standards were developed by two groups: 1. The National Governors Association (NGA) 2. Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) * Funded largely by the Gates Foundation

5. Common Core Development National Governors Association  The National Governors Association is the organization of the nation's governors. Council of Chief State School Officers  The Council of Chief State School Officers is a nonprofit organization of public officials who head departments of elementary and secondary education in the states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and five U.S. extra-state jurisdictions.

6. Drafting the Standards  CCSSO and the NGA Center led the standards’ development process in consultation with teachers, parents, experts and administrators. Several working groups and committees were formed. They include the:  Standards Development Work Group – responsible for determining and writing the common core state standards. Standards Development Work Group  Feedback Group – provides information backed by research to inform the standards development process by offering expert input on draft documents. Feedback Group  Validation Committee – nominated by states and national organizations and selected by a group of 12 governors and chiefs who hold leadership positions at NGA Center and CCSSO. Validation Committee

7. PA Adopts the Common Core  Pennsylvania agreed that the Common Core will represent at least 85% of academic standards in reading and math.  Pennsylvania accepted $41.3 million in Race to the Top funds.  PA changed the name of Common Core to “PA Core Standards”

8. PA Adopts the Common Core, 2  Keystone Exams in Literature and Algebra are aligned to PA Core Standards  The PSSAs in grades 3-8 will be aligned to Common Core in Math and Reading in 2014-2015

9. Solanco’s Response Accelerated curriculum revision grades K-12 in English/LA and math (more than twice as fast as usual) Significant number of teachers are involved in the process Target is full implementation for 2014-2015

10. Concerns with Common Core  Politics at the national level (creation)  Concerns about local control  Federal government incentivizing states to adopt  PA resident backlash because of scope of reforms  Costly to districts

11. Concerns with Common Core, 2  Disagreement among national validation committee members – some said it was a “step backward” in mathematics  Increased emphasis on non-fiction reading and a de-emphasis on classic literature  Handwriting/penmanship is reduced

12. Solanco’s View of PA Core Standards  We believe the math and reading standards are clearer, more focused, and more rigorous  As a result of this revision, our students will read more (literature canon)  The standards for writing are a great improvement over the old PA Standards  Handwriting Without Tears K-4 starting this year  Estimated $290,000 to respond to the standards change $200,000 of the cost funded through the Keystone Grant Solanco received. Title I funds have been used for another $20,000. Estimated $70,000 in district funds (including 30+ for new grade 7 math text)