Common Core State Standards: An Opportunity for Progress

Presentation Overview Current Conditions Common Core Solutions Moving Forward

The Value of Education

Are we challenging our students? Source: College Boards 2011 One Year Out Study.

Are we challenging our students? Source:

Are our current standards rigorous? 2007: The state of Georgia declared 88% of 8 th graders proficient in reading, even though just 26% scored at or above the proficiency level on the NAEP. 2007: If you believe those who set the Illinois standards, 82 percent of its 8th graders are proficient in reading, even though the NAEP says only 30 percent are. Source:

Are our current standards rigorous? 2009: For example, on the 4th-grade math test in 2009, West Virginia reported that 60.8 percent of its students had achieved proficiency, but 28.1 percent were proficient on the NAEP. 2009: Delaware claimed that 77 percent of its 4th-grade students were proficient in math, when NAEP shows that only 36 percent were. Source:

Are we preparing our students? Source: ccr11/pdf/ConditionofCollegeandCareerRea diness2011.pdf ccr11/pdf/ConditionofCollegeandCareerRea diness2011.pdf Student achievement is drastically low. Our nation is at a moment of crisis when it comes to preparing our students for the rigors of college and the demands of the increasingly global workplace.

Are our current standards rigorous? What type of thinking is involved? Teachers assess by looking at the verb that appears in a standard. How deeply do you need to understand a topic to interact with the content being presented? What kinds of cognitive tasks are being asked of students? Simply recall a fact? Analyze a complex argument?

Low Levels of Rigor Current standards feature large amounts of knowledge and recall learning targets Under-developing critical thinking abilities Disadvantaged in college and the workplace Why do we need Common Standards?

Low-Rigor Standards Source:

25 states have moved backwards in the quality of their standards from 2005 to states ELA standards received D or F grades in terms of rigor and clarity. 18 states Mathematics standards received D or F grades. The vast majority of states have standards that scored lower than the Common Core. Fordham Institute Grades Standards Source:

Lack of Clarity Write for a variety of purposes. Respond to variety of literary/informational texts. Competently use money. Are these standards clear to teachers, students, and parents? Why do we need Common Standards?

Inconsistencies Different states set different learning targets Different districts set different learning targets Different classrooms learning different topics We must expect high achievement from all students in all classrooms Why do we need Common Standards?

Results of Inconsistencies States requiring different content Cut scores for proficiency vary by state Students being taught and assessed at different levels of rigor based on location Students who move may be far ahead or far behind Large groups of students are disadvantaged in the national and global economies

Barriers to Collaboration Educators are not working from the same blueprints Chilling effect on the sharing of best practices Curricular materials not applicable to all places This creates an insular education community where everyone is doing the same work over and over again Why do we need Common Standards?

A set of clear, consistent, internationally- benchmarked K-12 standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics that will provide a clear and consistent framework to prepare our students for college and the workplace. CCSSI Video What is the Common Core?

An effort led by the National Governors Association, the Council of Chiefs of State Schools, ACT, Achieve, College Board, and many other groups that created standards voluntarily adopted by states. What is the Common Core?

Increased complexity of texts Focus on foundational math skills and application in novel real-world situations A return to depth as opposed to breadth Increased focus on justifying and presenting results and methods Critical reading and writing infused in all curricular areas Re-ordering of math content to reflect research- based path to college and career readiness How are Common Core Standards better?

Our current standards are low in rigor and do not emphasize the reasoning skills necessary for college and career success.

…you own a company with fifty different stores. If each had its own goals and objectives and approached them in different ways, would your company be able to implement your vision? Imagine…

Preparation: The CCSS will prepare students for both college and the workplace and emphasizes higher-order skills instead of knowledge and recall. Benefits of Common Core

Competition: The CCSS are internationally- benchmarked, ensuring that our students are prepared to be competitive in the global job market. Benefits of Common Core

Equity: The Common Core will foster consistent expectations not dependent on state or zip code. We will hold all students to high academic expectations. Benefits of Common Core

Clarity: The Common Core are focused, coherent, and clear standards. Everyone knows what is expected of our students. Benefits of Common Core

Collaboration: CCSSI will be a foundation for teachers, states, and districts to work together from the same blueprints. This will facilitate the sharing of best practices. Benefits of Common Core

45 states have voluntarily adopted the Common Core, as well as the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Implementation Progress

States and territories who have not yet adopted: Alaska*, Texas, Nebraska, Minnesota*, Virginia, Puerto Rico, Guam. Implementation Progress

The work of implementation will determine whether or not the Common Core positively impacts student achievement in our nation. Adoption is just the beginning…

The CCSSO has convened the publishing community to ensure that high-quality instructional materials aligned to the Common Core are being created. Implementation: Curriculum

Implementation: Assessment Diagnostic and interim assessments (optional) Most assessments are traditional pencil and paper Results available to schools in two- to-four weeks Support for both traditional and integrated math course sequences Field testing begins 2012, operational by 2014 Diagnostic and interim assessments (optional) Assessments are computer-adaptive Most results are available instantly, though some items may require human grading Reports link directly to professional development and research-based strategies for instruction Field testing begins 2013, operational by 2015

I thought there was local control over what was taught. Who gave the state the right to change our curriculum? Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Common Core State Standards Initiative the first step of a federal take-over of our education system? Frequently Asked Questions

If our schools are performing poorly now with low-rigor standards, whats going to happen when the standards get tougher?? Frequently Asked Questions

What questions can parents ask now to ensure that the Common Core gets properly implemented in their district? Frequently Asked Questions

What can schools do to keep parents informed about changes to the standards? Parent Guides to Student Success Frequently Asked Questions

What questions do you have?

For more information contact: David Musselwhite, Michigan PTA Lee Ann Kendrick, National PTA