THE COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS MAINE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

THINGS TO KNOW CCSS is not a curriculum does not dictate curriculum or teaching methods defines what all students are expected to know and be able to do does not define how teachers should teach focuses on outcomes, not instruction

TIMELINE FOR SMARTER BALANCED ASSESSMENT Pilot and release sample test Spring 2014 Field test Full implementation 2015 Final achievement standards verified and adopted The SBAC Promise All features will be available for the field test.

ASSESSMENT SYSTEMS Even if Smarter Balanced Assessments delivers on all that is promised, the assessment will not comprise a complete assessment system. An assessment system must feature a balanced approach that includes multiple types of evidence so there is a robust picture of student learning.

COMMON CORE SUPPORTERS National Governors’ Association CCSSO (State Commissioners) Civil Rights groups like NAACP, LaRaza, LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens) Chamber of Commerce Reform groups like Stand for Children and Teach for America Foundations like Gates and GE

COMMON CORE DOUBTERS Network for Public Education (Diane Ravitch and Anthony Cody) Badass Teachers Association Tea Party conservatives Parents and Teachers Against Common Core on Facebook

WHERE IS THE NEA? The NEA supports the standards has called for time, tools and resources for educators and students has called for reduction in high stakes standardized tests has called for a moratorium on using the field test results of SBAC for accountability for two years

WHERE IS MEA? Full position statement can be found online:

THE MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION The Maine Learning Results were most recently updated in 2011 to include Common Core as the standards for English language arts and math. They are to be fully implemented in the school year. COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS: emphasize more complex content and concepts emphasize real-world skills like problem solving, collaboration, critical thinking, and communication set a high bar for all Maine students leave as local decision - * curriculum, * required reading and school operations, * helping students meet and/or exceed the standards

WHERE IS YOUR DISTRICT? What is the status of your school district’s implementation of CCSS? What staff development opportunities have you had to prepare educators for teaching the standards? What classroom practices have you based on CCSS implementation? How do you communicate this information to parents?

WHAT OTHER TOPICS ARE IMPORTANT TO THE DISCUSSION OF CCSS?