Learning to Lead: Admissions in the 21st Century Webinar Series Common Core Standards and the Impact on Admissions January 17, :00 - 2:00 PM EST Presenters: Michael Barron Jay Goff Natasha Vasavada

Advocacy & Policy Center Mission: To increase the number of students who earn a college degree and who are prepared to succeed in the 21st century. Approach:

College Preparation & Access Arts at the Core The CollegeKeys Compact School Counselor Advocacy Teacher Advocacy Minority Male Achievement Undocumented Students and the DREAM Act The National Commission on Writing College Affordability & Financial Aid – Cracking the Student Aid Code – Rethinking Student Aid – Trends in Higher Education – Education Pays – Simplifying State Aid Processes College Admission & Completion – College Completion Agenda – Admissions in the 21st Century – Access & Diversity Collaborative – Community College Transfer & Retention Areas of Focus

Presenters Michael Barron Assistant Provost for Enrollment Management and Executive Director of Admission, The University of Iowa Jay Goff Vice President, Enrollment and Retention Management, Saint Louis University Bradley Quin Executive Director, Higher Education Advocacy, College Board Natasha Vasavada Executive Director, Standards and Curriculum Alignment Services, Research and Development, College Board

Objective This webinar will help enrollment professionals gain an understanding of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), their effect on college and career readiness and the changes to English language arts and math standards.

What is the Common Core? A state-led effort to develop a common set of college and career readiness standards in English language arts and math that: Align with college and workplace expectations Represent 21 st century skills Include rigorous content and applications of knowledge Are evidence-based Are informed by frameworks from top performing countries Source:

Common Core = Major Change and Mindset Shift The Common Core State Standards: Are for all students, not just students seeking accelerated learning. Will impact all teachers, not just ELA and math teachers. Are happening now – 46 states have adopted the standards, and new common assessments (effective ) are being developed. Creates important challenges, opportunities, and implications for higher education. The Common Core State Standards require a mindset shift from high school completion to college and career readiness for all students. There is an important and necessary role for higher education in the implementation of the Common Core.

Why Common Core State Standards? Issue #1: Inconsistent State Standards Source: U.S. Department of Education

Too few students are receiving the academic preparation necessary to be successful in college. Source: The College Completion Agenda 2010 Progress Report, The College Board Why Common Core State Standards? Issue #2: Low College Completion Rates

Strengths of the Common Core Source: Previously, every state had its own set of academic standards and different expectations of student performance. Consistency Common standards can help create more equal access to an excellent education. Equity All students must be prepared to compete with not only their American peers, but also with students from around the world. Competition Clear and coherent standards will help students (and parents and teachers) understand what is expected of them. Clarity Common Standards create a foundation for districts and states to share resources and work collaboratively. Collaboration

Features of the Common Core State Standards – English Language Arts 11 Informational text and literature Comprehending complex texts Writing in response to texts Conducting and reporting on research Language and grammar skills Speaking and listening Cross-content literacy

Features of the Common Core State Standards – Math 12 Emphasis on mathematical practices Attention to focus and coherence Increased focus on algebra in middle school Problem solving and reasoning Mathematical modeling Standards for STEM readiness

Common Core: A Fast Timeline June 2009 Beginning of CCSS Initiative March 2010 K-12 Draft Released for Public Comment June 2010 Formal Release of K-12 CCSS Dec states have adopted the CCSS Participating States Administer New CCSS Assessments Implementation is NOW!

The College Boards Role Helped develop standards Served on advisory committee guiding the initiative Provided research on college readiness skills Continues involvement to assist states in implementation

Common Assessments The assessment systems will: Provide a common measure of college and career readiness Be computer-based and include innovative item types Measure higher order skills and application of knowledge through multiple assessment formats Include formative assessments and performance tasks Provide timely data to educators and parents Ensure comparable expectations regardless of where students live Two state consortia are building assessment systems to measure the Common Core State Standards as part of the Race to the Top federal grant program.

Impact on Higher Education Admissions officers are critical to the high school-to-college transition: Understanding how Common Core will affect the transition to college will help students obtain the best experience and success out of college Being involved in Common Core will ensure there is alignment between K-12 and higher education Higher education leaders need to be engaged in the discussions and policy changes that will result.

Why Should the Enrollment Management Community Participate in the CCSS Evolution? Enrollment professionals believe in facilitating student success Admissions processes are designed to align a holistic evaluation of student skills and potential with a best fit academic experience Enrollment professional voices can help ensure there is alignment between the admission process and standards at the K-12 and higher ed levels In order to create alignment, higher education professionals need to know more about CCSS

How and When Should Enrollment Professionals Be Involved? Timing for higher education involvement should allow for pre- and post-admission studies that provide insight into alignment issues such as: How well does the Common Core align with institutional expectations for preparation? Do the new standards outperform the current evaluation processes? How effective are the assessments? What needs to change in first-year higher education expectations, if anything?

Higher Education Involvement: Who Else on the Campus Needs to Participate? Faculty and Academic Leadership Placement/Retention Professionals Admission Committees Math and English Language Arts Staff Schools of Education Others?

Establishing the Value of CCSS and New Assessments Does the Common Core supplement or supplant current enrollment requirements and processes? What are the plans for implementation scheduling? How do the new assessments align with other innovative assessments designed to facilitate student fit and success? Will CCSS assess other things enrollment professionals look for in students and good institutional matches? What about degree/program requirements beyond the first year? Will states mandate the use of the Common Core Standards at public institutions?

Challenges & Opportunities Questions and Comments

Resources The Common Core State Standards Initiative: SMARTER Balanced: PARCC: K-12 Center at ETS Guide to the Assessment Consortia:

For More Information… To learn more about the work of Admissions in the 21 st Century and to download this webinar and presentation, visit Upcoming Learning to Lead webinars: Jan. 26: Be an Education Advocate Feb. 16: School Counselors and College and Career Readiness