Core Pre-K Standards Review & Comment

Common Core Pre-K Standards Mounting evidence supports that a child’s earliest years, from birth to age eight, are the most crucial in developing mental capacity. Aligning Pre-K Standards with Common Core State Standards prepared for Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care by Hanover Research www.hanoverresearch.com

Common Core Pre-K Standards: School Readiness School Readiness is a key concept in aligning Pre-K standards with elementary and secondary education standards since they can help measure important foundational skills for achievement in later grades Preschool standards through play based learning will ensure children are properly prepared to meet the later goals of K-12 performance standards Aligning Pre-K Standards with Common Core State Standards prepared for Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care by Hanover Research www.hanoverresearch.com

Common Core Pre-K Standards: Focus on Mathematics/Literacy Math and literacy represent two areas in which a large achievement gap is usually evident between low- and middle-income children in later years Supporting children’s achievement in these subjects during pre-K can help lessen this gap A focus on early mathematics and literacy skills in preschool can predict later achievement in math and literacy as well as other disciplines! Aligning Pre-K Standards with Common Core State Standards prepared for Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care by Hanover Research www.hanoverresearch.com

Common Core Pre-K Standards: Focus on Mathematics/Literacy Proper early mathematics instruction can help children develop: Curiosity, creativity and flexibility Positive attitude towards school and learning Literacy skills and language development Proper early literacy instruction can help children progress in: Social-emotional development Creativity Achievement in all other subjects Aligning Pre-K Standards with Common Core State Standards prepared for Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care by Hanover Research www.hanoverresearch.com

Draft Common Core Standards for Pre-K: Background The Common Core Standards for ELA and Math will provide early education and care with achievement goals for older preschool children to obtain in ELA and Math (learning indicators) In Massachusetts + 4/2003 Preschool Guidelines + 1/2010 New Regulation for curriculum and progress reports + Professional Development for Workforce Based on Core Competencies + Programs engaged in QRIS improvement activities + Pre-Kindergarten Common Core Standards ELA and Math _________________________________________________________ ADD UP TO : Quality Settings Excellent Child Outcomes

Draft Common Core Pre-K Standards: Background ESE, EEC and some preschool experts collaborated on the development of Pre-K Core Standards in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math On October 12th and October 19th the respective Boards voted to solicit public comment The public comment period began on October 26th and will end on December 3rd

Common Core Pre-K Standards: Review & Comment Period ESE and EEC jointly held regional meetings across the state to gather public comment: 12 meetings held across the state with at least 2 held in each EEC region Meetings were well attended Over 550 people attended meetings to give comment statewide

Common Core Pre-K Standards: Review and Comment Period The draft Pre-K Standards were posted on the EEC website with a link to a survey on the ESE website Survey comment period ended on December 1st 85 people have logged into the survey and have given comment

Common Core Pre-K Standards: Review and Comment Period Survey Question: What best describes your role? 50% of responses were from a preschool educator or an administrator

Common Core Pre-K Standards: Review and Feedback: Overall the Common Core Pre-K Standards in ELA and Math were well received: Work well with the preschool guidelines that programs have worked with since 2004 and like Simple and help simplify what programs should build into their curriculum in order to focus on achievement goals in ELA and Math Assist with communication between preschool and public kindergarten programs

Common Core Pre-K Standards: Questions and Implementation Challenges Q - How will the Common Core Standards be used? A - Standards will inform what resources are needed to support programs, children and their families A- Standards will inform what professional development is needed for the field Q - Will children be denied entrance to K based on not meeting the standards? A - Preschool standards should be used to help measure important foundation skills for achievement in later grades, but should never deny entry Q -How will EEC support implementation of the standards? A - Comprehensive training and professional support is needed to successfully implement the standards including the development of a solid and effective curriculum. Educators must have sufficient background in both math and English Language Arts in order to teach this in their curriculum. Responses are supported in the research: Aligning Pre-K Standards with Common Core State Standards prepared for Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care by Hanover Research www.hanoverresearch.com

Revisions Based on Comments to Pre-K Standards in ELA and Math: Minor changes were made throughout the documents: Language changes were made: For Consistency - “With guidance and support” To ensure wording reflects developmentally appropriate practice - “Read aloud” added when referring to children responding to stories or poetry To replace language indicating that a standard is not attained at the preschool level - “When an individual child is ready” to replace “Begins in Kindergarten” Other specific language changes were made throughout the document based on comment

Final draft documents: Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks for Math and English Language Arts: Final draft documents: Massachusetts Curriculum Framework For Mathematics Grades Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Incorporating the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics Massachusetts Curriculum Framework for English Language Arts & Literacy For Grades Pre-Kindergarten to Kindergarten Incorporating The Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy In History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects

Common Core Pre-K Standards: Building the System and Supporting Programs 6 Regional Educator and Provider Support (EPS) Grantees to provide coaching and mentoring, competency development and intentional professional development 6 Regional EOE Readiness Centers to provide coordination between early education and care, elementary and secondary education and higher education EEC Initiatives to build the system and support the programs include: Core Competencies QRIS System Professional Qualification Registry Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) Training Course development Literacy Preschool Guidelines And more to come

Common Core Pre-K Standards: A Developmental Continuum “ A developmental continuum of standards, curriculum and assessments, extending from the early years into later schooling, can support better transitions from infant/toddler care through preschool programs to kindergarten and into the primary grades as teachers work within a consistent framework across educational settings” NAEYC Aligning Pre-K Standards with Common Core State Standards prepared for Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care by Hanover Research www.hanoverresearch.com