Common Core Standards were established several years ago by educators and representatives of higher learning institutions in order to develop high quality educational standards and assessments (Smarter Balanced Assessment) to improve the quality of educational programs with the intent of improved student achievement. With the implementation of Federal education legislation, No Child Left Behind, state educational programs were ranked based upon school’s student achievement. Many disparities existed between the quality of education in states and each state had their own way of measuring quality. The Common Core Standards were established to help define what a quality educational program is as well as develop consistent student assessment tools.
The Common Core Standards are not a curriculum. Rather curriculum vendors are composing instructional products that meet the standards and assessments developed. Progressive schools, such as Southern Boone, have worked closely with the state and universities, MU in our case, to prepare for the increased rigor the standards and assessments require. Over the past two years, Southern Boone has made gradual changes to the content of its curriculum based upon student achievement and mastery of content.
Southern Boone has had an extensive history of providing a high quality education program. I do not expect this to chance as the new assessments are phased in. No one enjoys change. However, I feel the changes that are being made will result in stronger academic programs for our kids.
Please consult the following videos for additional information:
For a list of questions and answers on Common Core please consult:
http://www.dese.mo.gov/documents/CCSS-Communications-Toolkit.pdf
Please consult the following web pages for additional information:
http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/curriculum/Common_Core.html
http://www.smarterbalanced.org/about/
In The News
Education Week, 6/11/13
Article: “Schools Test-Drive Common Core”
http://www.edweek.org/dd/
Education Week, 6/11/13
Article: “States Seek Flexibility During Common-Test Transition”
http://www.edweek.org/ew/
USA Today, 6/11/13
Article: “Myths fuel attacks on ‘Common Core’ standards: Our view”
http://www.usatoday.com/story/
Maine Department of Education, 6/6/13
Article: “Business leaders support Common Core standards”
http://mainedoenews.net/2013/
New Hampshire Public Radio, 6/6/13
Article: “New ‘Smarter Balanced’ Test Will Ask More Of Students”
http://www.nhpr.org/post/new-
Teton Valley News, 5/31/13
Article: “Practice Tests for New Idaho Academic Standards Available”
http://www.tetonvalleynews.
Idaho State Department of Education, 5/30/13
Article: “Next Generation Assessment Examples Now Available Statewide”
http://educationidaho.
KPCC-FM, 5/29/13
Article: “Sneak peek at new California standardized tests”
http://www.scpr.org/blogs/
Resources
Contacting Smarter Balanced—The Smarter Balanced external website (www.smarterbalanced.org) showcases the innovative work of the Consortium and provides frequent updates on activities, milestones, and events. Visitors can submit questions or reach Smarter Balanced staff at http://www.smarterbalanced.
Collaboration Site—Consortium members: The Consortium uses an internal collaboration site hosted by Google Apps to enable information sharing and collaboration among the member states. If you are a state employee in a Consortium state and need access to material on this website, please contact sbac@wested.org.
Follow Smarter Balanced on Twitter—Follow @SmarterBalanced for resources and links to the latest news about the Consortium.
Prior versions of the Weekly Update—State members: Previous Smarter Balanced Weekly Updates are available on the internal Smarter Balanced website at https://sites.google.com/a/
Smarter Balanced meeting minutes—State members: Agendas and minutes from previously held meetings are available on the internal Smarter Balanced website at https://sites.google.com/a/