1. Dr. Heather Cruz, Deputy Superintendent

2. Arizona's Common Core Standards
Students need to be prepared to be successful in college, careers, and life.
In order to take advantage of all options and opportunities in life, students need to be prepared to be successful in the jobs of the future.
Let’s talk briefly about what it means to be prepared for these jobs.
Dr. Heather Cruz, Deputy Superintendent

3. Dr. Heather Cruz, Deputy Superintendent
The World Has Changed
Technology changes rapidly
We are preparing students today for jobs that do not exist
Students are competing for jobs with kids from around the world
Let’s talk briefly about what it means to be prepared for these jobs.
First, it is important to know that the world has changed.
Technology changes quickly – in fact, it doubles every 18 months.
As an example, look at your cell phones. As soon as I get one, a new one comes out that is even better! For many of us, we hold more computing power in your smart phone than I did in my first computer! Employers need people who can keep up, adapt, and keep their company competitive.
Given the rate of change in technology, the reality is that we are educating our students for jobs that may not even exist today.
What’s more, employers aren’t just looking for qualified talent in their area, but are now looking across the globe. This means that your child will not be competing for jobs with the other kids in their class or in their city, but with other kids from around the world.
So, I’m sure you are asking yourself – what does this mean for my child? How can I be confident that he will be able to get a good job?
Dr. Heather Cruz, Deputy Superintendent
Source: Expect More Arizona

4. Arizona’s Common Core Standards
New academic standards in English and math in grades K-12
Standards define what students need to know and be able to do in each grade and subject
As an important step to ensure that all kids are prepared for college and career, Arizona is implementing new academic standards in English and in math in grades K-12. These standards are called Arizona’s Common Core Standards.
You may be asking, what are academic standards?
Standards set the expectation for what students need to know and be able to do in each grade and subject.
They provide a framework for what teachers will teach, while leaving decisions on curriculum, textbooks, and instructional materials up to the teachers and administrators in each school district.
Dr. Heather Cruz, Deputy Superintendent

5. How are the New Standards Different?
Arizona's Common Core Standards
How are the New Standards Different?
Will raise the bar to ensure that all kids are prepared for college, career and life
Will give students critical thinking, problem solving, and effective communications skills
Relevant to the real world
Cross-curricular connections
These standards are different because they will raise the bar to ensure that all kids are prepared for college, career and life.
The standards will improve what students learn and how they learn by teaching critical-thinking, problem solving, and effective communications skills.
Dr. Heather Cruz, Deputy Superintendent

6. Sample Released Item from 3rd Grade AIMS Assessment
Joe’s family had pie for dessert. Which figure below shows that ½ of the pie was eaten?

7. Sample Prototype Item from 3rd Grade PARCC

8. Developed by Educators and Experts
Arizona's Common Core Standards
Developed by Educators and Experts
Created by teachers, subject matter experts, parents and school administrators
Benchmarked internationally
A diverse group of teachers, subject matter experts, parents, and school administrators - including some of Arizona’s best and brightest leaders – worked together to create the standards that reflect both our aspirations for our children and the realities of the classroom.
The standards were also benchmarked against countries with top-notch education programs, to ensure our future generations are ready to compete in the global marketplace.
Dr. Heather Cruz, Deputy Superintendent

9. Consistent Across States
Arizona's Common Core Standards
Consistent Across States
Part of a larger state-led initiative
46 states and the District of Columbia developed the standards
States are now implementing the standards and developing assessments that will be consistent across states
Arizona’s standards are part of a larger initiative led by states
States worked together to develop the standards and to date, 46 and the District of Columbia are working to implement them and develop assessments that will be consistent across states, including Arizona.
Now states are working to implement the standards and develop assessments that will be consistent across states, including Arizona.
By having consistent and rigorous standards and tests across states, it will allow schools, districts and states to see how well students are performing in a way that is not possible now.
Dr. Heather Cruz, Deputy Superintendent

10. Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC)
Membership: 23 States and the District of Columbia, more than 25 million K-12 Students or approximately 51 percent of the nation’s K-12 public school students
Arizona is a Governing State

11. Arizona's Common Core Standards
Benefits to Students
Relevant to the real world
Reflect the academic knowledge and skills students need to be successful in college and career
Emphasize understanding and application, rather than memorization
Cross-curricular connections
There are a number of key benefits that students will see as the standards are implemented.
The standards are relevant to the real world and reflect the academic knowledge and skills our students need to be successful in college and career.
Reflect the academic knowledge and skills our students need to be successful in college and career
The standards and tests will place more emphasis on real learning and understanding of materials, not just basic memorization and test-taking skills.
Dr. Heather Cruz, Deputy Superintendent

12. Arizona's Common Core Standards
Benefits to Teachers
More time to go in depth in subjects
Provide clear and consistent learning targets
Helps limit challenges with student mobility
Allows teaching decisions to remain at the local level
Together with highly trained, well-supported teachers, the Standards will better prepare our students to achieve in K-12 and beyond.
The Standards will give teachers more time to go in depth in their subjects, provide clear and consistent learning targets, and mitigate challenges with student mobility.
The Standards and assessments will provide the framework for what students will learn but do not prescribe a curriculum, textbook, or instructional materials; instead, these decisions will be made at the local level.
Dr. Heather Cruz, Deputy Superintendent

13. Arizona's Common Core Standards
Benefits to Parents
Parents, teachers and students on the same page
Together you can identify when your child needs extra help or to be challenged more
Opportunities to support your
child’s learning at home
Collaborative Effort to Inform and Educate
Arizona’s Common Core Standards make clear exactly what students need to know and be able to do in English and in math.
The standards allow parents, students and teachers to be on the same page about student learning.
When you know what your child will be learning in the classroom, you and your child’s teacher can identify when your child needs extra help or need to be challenged more.
You can also support your child’s learning at home by:
Setting and keeping high expectations and supporting your child in meeting them.
Making education your top priority at home.
Talking every day about what your child learned in class. Ask probing questions so your child can tell you why it is interesting or important.
Providing a quiet environment at home so your child can complete his homework.
Making sure your child spends time reading every day.
Dr. Heather Cruz, Deputy Superintendent

14. Timelines for Implementation
Kindergarten & First Grade
2012 – Second Grade and introduce in all other grades
2013 – Full Implementation in all grades K-12
Arizona Common Core Standards
Dr. Heather Cruz, Deputy Superintendent

15. Timelines for Implementation
Elementary
SY AIMS and SAT 10 Remain in place
SY 2014 – 2015 PARCC Begins for Grades 3 – 8
High School
AIMS and SAT 10 Remain through SY
PARCC Assessments begin in SY
Graduation Requirements
AIMS through SY
PARCC begins SY
Arizona Assessments
Dr. Heather Cruz, Deputy Superintendent

16. PUSD Curriculum Design Flow Chart
Teachers will Build Lesson plans
Teachers will Build Instructional Units
District Committees will Build Formative & Summative Assessments
District Committees will Build District Curriculum Framework Units
District Committees will Prioritize Standards
District Committees will Deeply Analyze State Standards
PUSD will be implementing this workflow for all curriculum development across the district – departments and programs. The summer committees were able to complete the first two steps of the curriculum design process and work is currently under way to update, revise, enhance the Framework units. Prioritizing and organizing the standards into units was a challenging process and required grade level teams to deeply analyze the standards.
Dr. Heather Cruz, Deputy Superintendent

17. PUSD Curriculum Frameworks provide a Guaranteed & Viable Curriculum
All schools, grade levels and departments will implement the same instructional timeline and pacing for instruction
Focus is on mastery of concepts and skills
Standards are articulated from grade to grade to ensure there are no gaps
Mobility of a student will not impact their learning progression
Building systems of support for our teachers and students – teachers, C & I team, IMT, administration
Dr. Heather Cruz, Deputy Superintendent

18. A rigorous curriculum is…
“An inclusive set of intentionally aligned components-clear learning outcomes with matching assessments, engaging learning experiences, and instructional strategies-organized into sequenced units of study that serve as both the detailed road map and the high-quality delivery system for ensuring that all students achieve the desired end: the attainment of their designated grade-or course-specific standards within a particular content area.” -Larry Ainsworth, 2010
This is the way that we in Peoria will guarantee that our students will be prepared for college, career, and life – through a guaranteed and viable curriculum;
Dr. Heather Cruz, Deputy Superintendent

19. Building a Standards-Based District Curriculum
Instructional Calendar with Pacing
Priority Standards
Supporting Standards
Big Ideas
Depth of Knowledge
Targets
Learning Targets
Criteria for Success
Assessments
Essential Questions
Vocabulary
Performance
Tasks
Common Formative & Summative
The PUSD Curriculum Framework Units will include each of these components for ELA and Mathematics. All other content areas will also be redesign in the future to also follow this format.
Instructional Strategies/Suggestions
Resources
Dr. Heather Cruz, Deputy Superintendent

20. Common Core and Teacher Evaluation
1a. Demonstrating Knowledge of Content and Pedagogy
3b. Using Questioning and
Discussion Techniques
3a. Communicating
With Students
3d. Using Assessment
in Instruction
1c. Setting instructional
Outcomes
3c. Engaging Students in
Rigorous Learning
1b. Demonstrating Knowledge
of Students
3c. Engaging Students in
Rigorous Learning
1e. Designing Coherent
Instruction
1d. Demonstrating Knowledge
of Resources
Dr. Heather Cruz, Deputy Superintendent

21. PUSD Curriculum Framework Implementation Timeline
2014 – 2015
2013 – 2014
Full Implementation of District Curriculum Frameworks K-12 ELA & Mathematics
Continue Strategic implementation of District Curriculum Frameworks
ELA K-12
Mathematics K-12
Strategic implementation of Curriculum Frameworks
ELA & Mathematics K-2
Dr. Heather Cruz, Deputy Superintendent

22. Dr. Heather Cruz, Deputy SuperintendentSY
Trainer of Trainers
C & I Team Members attended ADE Training on Common Core Standards for Mathematics and English Language Arts
C & I provided optional professional development workshops for K-12 Teachers and Administrators
Dr. Heather Cruz, Deputy Superintendent

23. Dr. Heather Cruz, Deputy Superintendent
C & I Department provided the following Professional Development Workshops: SY
Common Core Standards Training for all K-1 Teachers (Various dates throughout the year)
Building A Local Accountability System with standards, Assessments, and Standards Based Instruction for all K-12 Principals, Academic Directors, Teacher Leaders, C & I Coaches (February 29 & March 1) & (May 29 & 30)
Building District Level Curriculum with Common Core Standards for Teacher Leaders from each school (May 1, 2 & 3)
Math Mentor Workshops (Various Dates and ongoing)
Curriculum Development Workshops – June 4-14
K-12 Teacher Leaders from each school worked in teams to design new Frameworks for English Language Arts, Mathematics using the new Common Core Standards
Dr. Heather Cruz, Deputy Superintendent

24. Dr. Heather Cruz, Deputy Superintendent
C & I Department provided the following Professional Development Workshops for all K-12 Principals, Assistant Principals, and Teachers: SY
Deep Review of Common Core Standards (August 6)
Introduction to District Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional Shifts of the Common Core (October 4)
The 8 Mathematical Practices (November 29/December 6)
State/District Updates and a Deep Look into the Instructional Shifts (January 24)
PUSD Curriculum Frameworks and Designing Classroom Instruction (March 7)
Common Core Standards and Interventions (Various Dates Just for Reading Specialists)
Math Mentor Workshops (Various Dates and Ongoing)
Curriculum Development Workshops – June
K-12 Teacher Leaders from each school will work in teams to update/revise the Frameworks for English Language Arts, Mathematics, CTE, and the Arts and begin development of Summative and Formative Assessments aligned to Common Core Standards
Important to note that every department is using the same approach and framework for curriculum design.
Dr. Heather Cruz, Deputy Superintendent

25. PUSD Connecting at the State & National Levels
C & I Team members were selected to attend training at the National & State Level :
C & I Team members participated in the following state and local consortium activities:
Open Educational Resources (OER) Rubrics
Educators Evaluating Quality Instructional Products (EQuIP) Rubrics
AIMS Assessment Writing
Maricopa County Educational Service Agency (MCESA) assessment item writing workshops for Social Studies and Special Areas
AZAC assessment item realignment to Common Core Standards for Mathematics
Dr. Heather Cruz, Deputy Superintendent

26. Next Steps for On-Going Success
Review all of our adopted curriculum materials (i.e. textbooks, manipulatives, technology devices, programs, etc.) to determine alignment to new standards as well as the gaps.
Establish a priority list of what will need to be purchased to support the teaching and learning of the new standards.
Identify professional development needs aligned to learning the new content in the standards as well as the pedagogy needed to ensure the level of rigor called for by the standards is attainable for both the teachers and the students.
Review and identify the level of support each site will need to ensure teachers feel confident and successful with the implementation of the new standards, instructional strategies, and resources.

27. Dr. Heather Cruz, Deputy Superintendent
Questions
Dr. Heather Cruz, Deputy Superintendent