Common Core State Standards An Introduction

Why is this important to know? Currently, every state has its own set of academic standards. This means that students in different states are receiving different levels of learning. The developers of the Common Core realize that all students must be prepared to compete for jobs in a global market with not only other students from the United States, but with students from around the world as well. Although Math and ELA are the major focus of the CCSS at this moment, there are also standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects

What is the Common Core?! Aligned with college and work expectations Focused and coherent (for the most part) 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 Based on evidence and research Coordinated by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center)

What is it?! (Continued) Parents, teachers, school administrators, and experts from across the country together with state leaders, are leading the effort to develop a common core of state standards. The National Education Association (NEA), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), and National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), among other organizations have been instrumental in bringing together teachers to provide specific, constructive feedback on the standards.

States That Have Formally Adopted the CCSS

The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) Common Core State Standards are only the first step! Common Assessments aligned to the Common Core will ensure that these newly developed standards will reach every classroom. PARCC’s assessment system will provide students, educators, policymakers and the public with the tools needed to identify whether students — from grade 3 through high school — are on track for success after high school, and if there are gaps in a student’s education, how they can be addressed well before students enter college or the workforce.

PARCC Goals Create high-quality assessments Build a pathway to college and career readiness for all students Support educators in the classroom Develop 21st century, technology based assessments Advance accountability at all levels There will be a few years worth of field testing with the expectation to have a full administration of PARCC assessments by the 2014-2015 school year.

PARCC The high school assessments will include a range of item types, including innovative constructed response, extended performance tasks, and selected response (all of which will be computer based). Specifics regarding what exactly the assessments will look like have not been made public as of the creation of this presentation.

What this means for the high school curriculum

PARCC Participating States

Works Cited Career and college readiness for the next generation. (2011, December). Retrieved from The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers website: http://www.parcconline.org/sites/parcc/files/PARCC-Overview-Dec2011.pdf Common Core State Standards for ELA. (n.d.). Retrieved from Common Core State Standards Initiative website: http://www.corestandards.org/assets/CCSSI_ELA%20Standards.pdf Common Core State Standards: A statewide dialogue. (2010, March). Retrieved from New York State Education Department website: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/ciai/common_core_standards/ccss.ppt In the states. (n.d.). Retrieved from Common Core State Standards Initiative website: http://www.corestandards.org/in-the-states New York State assessment transition plan ELA & Math. (2011, October 20). Retrieved from EngageNY website: http://www.engageny.org/ PARCC overview - January 2012. (2012, January). Retrieved from The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers website: http://www.parcconline.org/sites/parcc/files/PARCC_Overview_January2012.ppt