A major shift in Alabama’s curriculum to better prepare our students for post-secondary life (i.e. life after school). 1.Beginning this school year ( ) the state of Alabama will begin implementing “College and Career Ready” Standards (aka Common Core State Standards). 2.This process will begin with the Mathematics Curriculum. This will be followed in the school year with the implementation of “College and Career Ready” Standards in the English Language Arts Curriculum.

3. What does this mean for my child? Increase in Rigor in Course Work -Some Standards previously taught in a specific grade level will now be taught in a lower grade level (e.g. specific math standards once taught in 1 st grade will now be taught in Kindergarten, etc.) -In many grade levels and subjects the number of standards to be taught have increased significantly (e.g. Algebra I has 50 standards that must be covered in one semester on the block schedule) -Algebra II is now the terminal course for students pursuing a Career Technical Endorsement!

Increase in Expectations -Your child MUST be at school on time and ready to be engaged in a relevant and meaningful lesson! Teachers must cover more rigorous material in the same amount of time. -Children that are not at school and engaged stand a significant risk of falling drastically behind! -ACT and Assessment Changes – By all assessments in grades 3 rd – 12 th will transition to correlate with the ACT. (The AHSGE and ARMT+ will be phased out).

Increase in Expectations (Continued) -The Alabama High School Graduation Exam (AHSGE) is a minimum standard exam that has no correlation to post-secondary success!! The ACT is a college entrance exam that determines a student’s college readiness!! Increase in Relevancy -Engaging and Relevant Lessons where the students are involved participants investigating and using higher order thinking skills! (Our teachers are involved in on-going professional development concerning strategic teaching – Content Literacy, AMSTI, etc.)

Increase in Relevancy (Continued) -The idea is to prepare your child for a successful life after school. That is College or Career Ready! We MUST close the gap between high school and what your child needs to be successful in college or with a career!!! -Administrators and Counselors will use progress monitoring assessments throughout each school year to monitor your child’s instructional growth and work with his or her teachers to appropriately adjust instruction! -Administrators and Counselors will use ACT EXPLORE results in the 8 th grade to individually assign course options to establish a College or Career Ready curriculum for your child! The Standard Diploma Option is no longer a choice!!

4.What can I as a parent do? - Attendance – Your child must be at school and engaged!!! - Behavior – Your child must be respectful!!! - Engagement – Be an active participant in your child’s education! This should be a collaborative partnership between school and home!!

Attendance at school drastically impacts a students ability to be an On-Time Graduate. Each day of absence in the 9 th grade is associated with a dramatically reduced likelihood of graduating on time. 0 – 4 Days Absent = 87% chance of graduating on time 5 – 9 Days Absent = 63% chance of graduating on time 10 – 14 Days Absent = 41% chance of graduating on time 15 – 19 Days Absent = 21% chance of graduating on time 20 – 24 Days Absent = 9% chance of graduating on time 25 – 29 Days Absent = 5% chance of graduating on time 30 – 34 Days Absent = 2% chance of graduating on time 35 – 40 Days Absent = 1% chance of graduating on time Source: Every Child a Graduate Center

PK – 12 th Grade Indicators of an At-Risk Student (i.e. future drop-out) ABCs that indicate a student is At-Risk: Attendance Behavior Coursework/Credits

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ALABAMA’S “ COLLEGE AND CAREER READY” INITIATIVE GO TO Please contact school administration for additional questions.