A Resource Guide for Parents

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An Overview of the New Common Core State Standards

Clear and consistent standards to prepare all students for college and the work force

To make sure all states and students are holding their students to the same rigorous accountability

Academic Content Standards were state specific whereas the Common Core State Standards have the same standards state-to-state There are no longer separate Social Studies and Science standards. Instead, content from those subject areas are included in the Language Arts Common Core Standards.

As parents, knowing the Common Core Standards can help you more effectively talk to teachers about what your child or children are learning.

Two types of standards: Mathematical practice Mathematical content

1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them. 2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively. 3. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others. 4. Model with mathematics. 5. Use appropriate tools strategically. 6. Attend to precision. 7. Look for and make use of structure. 8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.

Include standards for use in: English language arts courses Literacy standards in history/ social studies Science technical subjects Describe expertise that students will develop in the areas of: Reading Writing speaking and listening language Describe how students use and strengthen these skills—particularly reading and writing—in other subjects at their grade level

Key Features of the Standards Reading: Text Complexity and growth of comprehension Writing: Text types, responding to reading, and research Speaking and listening: Flexible communication and collaboration Language: Conventions (grammar), effective use, and vocabulary

What does this mean for your student with special needs?

Students with disabilities must be challenged to excel within the general curriculum and be prepared for success in their post- school lives (including college and/or careers) Common Core State Standards improve access to rigorous academic content standards Students with significant disabilities require supports to access standards, but should still be given access to the rigor and high expectations of the Common Core State Standards.

Instruction must incorporate supports and accommodations, including: supports and related services designed to meet the unique needs of these students and to enable their access to the general education curriculum An Individualized Education Program (IEP) which includes annual goals aligned with and chosen to facilitate their attainment of grade-level academic standards. Teachers and specialized instructional support personnel who are prepared and qualified to deliver high-quality, evidence-based, individualized instruction and support services.

The Common Core have many literacy, numeracy, and cross- disciplinary skills. Allows for the widest range possible of students to participate fully from the onset.

The most significant challenge will be in preparing and further developing the knowledge and skills of all teachers who are sharing the instructional responsibilities for students with disabilities. This change doesn't come without intervention as specified in each student's individualized education plan (IEP). Extra classroom support, variation in the instructional approach, small group discussions and assisted technology are just some examples of intervention that will be needed for the students to excel in a general education classroom.

Instruction in reading for students with disabilities should allow for Braille, screen-reader technology, or other assistive devices. Writing instruction should include the use of a scribe, computer, or speech-to-text technology. Speaking and listening should be interpreted broadly to include sign language. The student with special education needs is thought of as a general education student first—one who, with supports and accommodations, can be expected to proceed in the general curriculum with mastery of grade-level standards as the goal.

What can you do?

Create a study group with other parents, community members, or school staff to examine the new standards. Discuss your initial impressions or concerns about the standards, how they differ from your existing state standards Learn how the school or district will prepare for implementation Through your involvement on the site council, parent-teacher association, or other committee, ask your school administrators and teachers how they will prepare to teach to the standards and how they will measure student progress toward meeting the standards. Ask how parents and community members can provide regular feedback and support teaching and learning of the standards.

Attend school board meetings and ask whether policies will be developed to support schools in this work. Talk with business and community leaders about the need for high goals and clear expectations for our children’s education. Talk to your children about the importance of graduating from high school ready for college and career success. Discuss how the standards will be used to guide teaching and learning from kindergarten through high school

The common core is a set of standards that all students should learn by the end of each grade... but learning happens at home AND at school! Your turn... Go the the parent guide and select your child's grade level Make a list of activities you can do at home to help support what your child is learning at school

Links to resources you can use at home

Provides overviews of what children should be able to learn by the end of each grade level Also mentions strategies to help support student learning at home as well.

Provides an overview of the standards and its challenges Provides examples of how teachers may be implementing the new standards Provides teaching strategies that parents could implement at home as well

A resource flyer highlighting information that parents should know about the Common Core Standards There is an additional flyer in Spanish as well

 Teaching  Instruction  Academic Content Standards Provides details about how the Common Core is being implemented in Ohio

Clark, Rich. (2012). Becoming a Core Ninja. Retrieved from Common Core State Standards Initiative. (2012). Standards for Mathematical Practice. Retrieved from standards/mathematics/introduction/standards-for-mathematical-practice/ standards/mathematics/introduction/standards-for-mathematical-practice/ Council for exceptional Children. (2012). Common Core Standards: What Special Educators Need to Know. Retrieved from =/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID= =/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=15269 Core Standards. (2012). Application to Students with Disabilities. Retrieved from Education Northwest.(March 2011). Spotlight on the Common Core Standards. Retrieved from Herbert, Marion. (February 1, 2011). Common Core’s Implications for Special Ed Students. Retrieved from cores-implications-special-ed-studentshttp:// cores-implications-special-ed-students Hunt Institute. (Aug 19, 2011). Common Core State Standards: A New Foundation for Student Success. Video retrieved from a3nE3aZAfBMT8pqM5PA&playnext=1 a3nE3aZAfBMT8pqM5PA&playnext=1