Pennsylvania Common Core Standards & Student Assessments Changes

What Momentum is There for the Initiative? 48 states, the District of Columbia, and two territories have signed on to the National Common Core State Standards Initiative (PA is one of the states, and has made minor revisions)

Why is This Important for Students, Teachers, and Parents? Prepares students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in college and work Ensures consistent expectations regardless of a student’s zip code Provides educators, parents, and students with clear, focused guideposts

Why Now? Disparate standards across states Student mobility Global competition Today’s jobs require different skills

Criteria for the Standards Fewer, clearer, and higher Aligned with college and work expectations 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

PA Common Core Curriculum

Shifts in English Language Arts Argumentative writing, emphasis on evidence Expository writing (frequent short research pieces) Increase in % of informational text--50% in third grade to 70% in HS, (note it is the whole HS experience not just English class) Increase in the complexity of texts

Shifts in Math Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them. Use appropriate tools strategically. Reason abstractly and quantitatively. Attend to precision. Look for and make use of structure. Look for and make sense of regularity in repeated reasoning

Assessment Grades 3-8 Mathematics and Reading PSSA Grade 12 PSSA retest in October Grades 3-8 & 11 Mathematics and Reading PASA Grades 5 & 8 Writing PSSA Grades 4 & 8 Science PSSA Grades 4, 8 & 11 Science PASA No PSSA-M Grades 3-5 Stand-alone Writing Field Test Keystone Exams Algebra I, Literature, Biology

Assessment Essentially the assessments and the content focus of the assessments is the same as last year.

Offered paper/pencil only Results will be used to implement a writing component into the proposed Grades 3-5 English Language Arts (ELA) assessment. Grades 3-5 Stand- alone Writing Field Test

Grades 3-5 English Language Arts PSSA (PA CC) Grades 3-5 Mathematics PSSA (PA CC) Grades 6-8 Mathematics and Reading PSSA Grades 3-8 & 11 Mathematics & Reading PASA Grade 8 Writing PSSA Grades 4 & 8 Science PSSA Grades 4, 8 & 11 Science PASA Grades 6-8 Stand-alone Writing Field Test Keystone Exams Algebra I, Literature, Biology Composition Field Test

Includes a writing component An area not previously assessed at grades 3 & 4 Offered on-line & paper/pencil Grades 3-5 Math and English Language Arts PSSA Based on Assessment Anchor Content Standards aligned to PA Common Core Standards

Red = Alert Assessments Based on PA Common Core Standards are being designed to match the expected growth in reading, math, thinking and reasoning

Red = Alert Assessments Based on PA Common Core Standards are being designed to match the expected growth in reading, math, thinking and reasoning

Red = ELA Example Current PSSA type Read the passage below and answer questions regarding the authors purpose.

Red = ELA Example Current PSSA type Read the passage below and answer questions regarding the authors purpose. Common Core PSSA type Read the two passages below and compare and contrast the authors purpose in each passage.

Red = Math Example Current PSSA type Subtract 15 from 45 and divide by 3. A. 15 B. 10 C. 5 D. None of the above

Red = Math Example Common Core PSSA type (5 th Grade) What mathematical expression is equivalent to the number sentence below? Subtract 15 from 45 and divide by 3? Current PSSA type Subtract 15 from 45 and divide by 3. A. 15 B. 10 C. 5 D. None of the above

Based on current Assessment Anchor Content Standards Offered on-line and paper/pencil Grades 4 & 8 Science PSSA

Common Core Curriculum Plan for the Year Summer Work August PD Plan End of Year 1

Common Core Curriculum Writing Plan Model Practice Benchmarks for the Year

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