Common Core State Standards Initiative

The Common Core State Standards Initiative

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Beginning in the spring of 2009, Governors and state commissioners of education from 48 states, 2 territories and the District of Columbia committed to developing a common core of state K-12 English-language arts (ELA)

and mathematics standards.

The Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSSI) is a state-led effort coordinated by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and

the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). www.corestandards.org

Common Core State Standards Initiative

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History and Context

Current Status

Next Steps

Common Core State Standards InitiativeHistory and Context

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Failed efforts at national standards and tests by Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton

NCLB has underscored extreme – and indefensible – differences in proficiency standards among states

Global economic competition and interest in international benchmarking has fueled demand for national standards among business leaders, governors and state education leaders

Nobody wants the federal government to develop standards and tests

American Diploma Project Network had demonstrated the feasibility of a state-led approach to common standards and assessments

The ADP Network: 35 States Working to Improve Postsecondary Preparation

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ADP Research Documents an Expectations Gap

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In many states, students can earn a high school diploma without the skills necessary for success in

college and careers.

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What students are typically expected to

know at the end of high school, as defined by

state standards, required curriculum and assessments

The knowledge and skills demanded by

postsecondary and employers for successful

first-year students and new employees.

RESULT

The College- and Career-Ready Policy Agenda

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31 States Have Adopted College- and Career-Ready Standards

8Source: Achieve Survey/Research, 2010

Though each state defined its own standards, there is a clear core of common expectations among them

21 States and DC Require a College- and Career-Ready Diploma

9Source: Achieve Survey/Research, 2010

15 ADP States Developed a Common Algebra II End of Course Exam That Measures Readiness for College Algebra

10Source:

ID

AZ

UT

MT

WY

NM

CO

AL

SC

KY

INOH

NC

SD

KS

NE

MN

WI

IA

IL

MO

AR

MS

OK

ND

OR

CA NV

WA

TX

PA

VA

NY

CT

WV MD

NJ

VTNH

DE

RI

HI

GA

FL

ME

MI

LA

AK

DC

Defining College & Career Readiness

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College includes any education beyond high school leading to a postsecondary credential

Careers of interest provide a family-sustaining wage and pathways to advancement….and typically require education or training beyond high school

College-ready means prepared to enter and succeed in entry-level credit-bearing courses without remediation

Research by conducted by ADP and independently by ACT found preparation for college or workforce training programs required comparable levels of skills in reading and mathematics

Types of evidence used to define college ready knowledge and skills

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Relationship between performance on skills measured by ACT and SAT, and success in first year courses

Analysis of syllabi in first year credit bearing math courses (college algebra)

Curriculum Surveys – what is taught in first year courses

Surveys of college faculty – what skills they think are most essential for success in the first year course they teach

Focus groups with college and high school faculty

Examination of college level work

Current Status

Common Core State Standards Initiative

13Source:

Process and Timeline

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Core writing teams in English Language Arts and Mathematics (See www.corestandards.org for list of team members)

External and state feedback teams provided on-going feedback to writing teams throughout the process

Draft College- and Career-Ready standards released for public comment October 2009

Draft K-12 standards released for public comment on March 10, 2010

Validation Committee of leading experts reviews standards

Revisions being made in response to feedback

Final standards released May 2010

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Overview of Draft High School Mathematics Standards

The high school mathematics standards:

Are organized around five conceptual categories: Number and Quantity, Algebra, Functions, Geometry, and Statistics and Probability

Call on students to practice applying mathematical ways of thinking to real world issues and challenges

Require students to develop a depth of understanding and ability to apply mathematics to novel situations, as college students and employees regularly are called to do

Emphasize mathematical modeling, the use of mathematics and statistics to analyze empirical situations, understand them better, and improve decisions

Include standards that are beyond the college and career readiness level but are necessary for STEM careers.

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Overview of Draft Writing Strand

Writing

Expect students to compose arguments and opinions, informative/explanatory pieces, and narrative texts

Focus on the use of reason and evidence to substantiate an argument or claim

Emphasize ability to conduct research—short projects and sustained inquiry

Require students to incorporate technology as they create, refine, and collaborate on writing

Include student writing samples that illustrate the criteria required to meet the standards (See Appendix C)

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Overview of Draft Reading Strand

Reading

Key Ideas and Details: Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and make logical inferences from it

Craft and Structure: Assess how point of view or purposes shapes the content and style of a text

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas: Synthesize and apply information presented in diverse ways (e.g., through words, images, graphs, and video) in print and digital sources in order to solve problems, answer questions

Range and Complexity: Read complex texts independently, proficiently and fluently, sustaining concentration, monitoring comprehension, and when useful, rereading

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Overview of Speaking and Listening Strand

Speaking and Listening

Focus on speaking and listening in a range of settings, both formal and informal—academic, small-group, whole-class discussions

Emphasize effective communication practices

Require interpretation and analysis of message as presented through oral, visual, or multimodal formats

Media and Technology are integrated throughout the standards.

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Overview of Draft Reading Standards for History/Social Studies

Reading Standards for History/Social Studies

Key Ideas and Detail: Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources

Craft and Structure: Analyze, evaluate, and differentiate primary and secondary sources

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas: Integrate information from diverse primary and secondary sources into a coherent understanding of an idea or event

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Overview of Draft Reading Standards for Science

Reading Standards for Science

Key Ideas and Detail: Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of scientific and technical texts

Craft and Structure: Analyze the scope and purpose of an experiment or explanation and determine which issues remain unresolved or uncertain

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas: Synthesize information in different formats by representing complex information in a text in graphical form (e.g., a table or chart) or translating a graphic or equation into words

Next Steps

Common Core State Standards Initiative

21Source:

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Common Core State Standards Initiative: Next Steps

State Adoption

Final standards released end of May

Governing body, process and timing of formal consideration for adoption varies by state

Federal incentives for state adoption

• Race to the Top State Grants – incentive for states to commit to adopt Common Core by end of 2010

• Race to the Top Common Assessment Consortium grants – requirement that participating states adopt Common Core by end of 2011

Postsecondary institutions and systems should participate in state decision making

• If a student meets the college- and career-ready standards, will he/she be prepared to succeed in entry-level credit bearing courses?

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Common Core State Standards Initiative: Next Steps

Development of Common Assessment Aligned to Common Core Standards

Race to the Top Common Assessment Grants

• Likely to award two multi-state consortia each $150 million to develop common assessments aligned to common core standards

• Will include high school level exams that assess whether a student has meet college-ready standards

– Intent is that postsecondary institutions will use results of assessments as part of determination of placement into credit-bearing vs. remedial course

• Postsecondary institutions and systems in each participating state must be closely involved in the development of the assessments for this to work

Model is Early Assessment Program developed jointly by CSU and California Department of Education

• High School juniors who score high enough are notified they will be placed into credit bearing course

Benefits to Higher Education of Common Standards and Assessments

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Improved preparation of incoming students – from all states

Better information about the preparation of incoming students

Reduced remediation rates

Increased degree attainment rates

Clear guidance for teacher preparation programs regarding content and skills teacher at each grade must be prepared to teach

Common Core State Standards Initiative