4. The Common Core Standards are
intended to be:
• Aligned with college and work expectations for ELA and math
• Focused and coherent
• Include rigorous content and application of knowledge
through high-order skills
• Build upon strengths and lessons of current state standards
• Internationally benchmarked so that all students are prepared
to succeed in our global economy and society
• Based on evidence and research
• State led – coordinated by NGA Center and CCSSO
4
SOURCE: Common Core State Standards, www.corestandards.org
5. What ‘adoption’ means for
states
• must adopt 100% of CCSS K-12 standards
– CCSS should not represent more than 85% of
curriculum
• must begin assessments on CCSS within three
years
• no requirements for public accountability
SOURCE: NGA, CCSSO
6. 46 states & DC have adopted
the CCSS
adopted
not
adopted
6
10. The Common Core Standards process:
• CCSSO and NGA‘s Center for Best Practices
• Advisory group: Achieve, Inc.; ACT, Inc.; College
Board, NASBE, and SHEEO
• 49 states signed MOU
• Two rounds of public review
• Final documents released June 2010
• No federal dollars for development; foundation support
11. NSBA & CCSS
• supports NGA/CCSSO state-led process
• supports federal funding for research and/or help to
states for developing assessments
• supports nationally available tests that states may adopt
voluntarily
• opposes federal mandates or coercion, eg. a condition
for receiving Title 1 funds
12. Next Generation Science
Standards
• Collaboration of Achieve, NRC, AAAS, NSTA and 26
lead states
• ―Internationally benchmarked‖
• Final version released April 9, 2013
• Intended to be adopted ‗in whole‘
• Carnegie Corp, Noyce Foundation & Dupont sponsors
12
13. 26 lead states – Next
Generation Science Standards
participant
non
participant
13
14. The federal government is
behind the CCSS
assessments
Mostly true
• federal dollars support assessment development
• state consortia are doing the work
15. State CCSS
assessment consortia
• formed to develop common ―next generation‖
assessments aligned to the CCSS
• supported by $346 million federal grants
• PARCC: Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for
College & Careers headed by Achieve, Inc.
• SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium headed by
Washington state department of education
15
16. 24 states & DC are in the
PARCC consortium
participant
non
participant
16
17. 28 states are in the SMARTER
consortium
participant
non
participant
17
18. Other assessment consortia
• Alternative assessments: $67 million to Dynamic
Learning Maps (DLM) and National Center and State
Collaboration (NCSC)
– Assessments for students with ―most significant cognitive
impairments‖
• Assessments for ELL: $10.5 million to
ASSETS, Assessment Services Supporting ELLs
Through Technology Systems
18
SOURCE: The K-12 Center at ETS, www.k12center.org
19. Federal technical review
of state consortia
Expert panel to review consortia processes:
• how they establish test validity
• how they developed test items
The panel will not review individual items
SOURCE; U.S. Department of Education, March 2013, http://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop-assessment/performance.html
20. States had to adopt the
CCSS to qualify for RTTT
grants or NCLB waivers.
Not true, but it didn’t hurt
21. Federal Policy and CCSS
College- and career- ready standards must be:
• common to a significant number of states; or
• approved by a ―state network of institutions of higher
education‖, certify students will not need remedial
courses (a network of 4-year IHEs that enroll at least
50% of students who attend state‘s 4-year public IHEs).
High quality assessments must be:
• Valid, reliable and fair; measure college & career
readiness.
• Measure student growth.
22. Federal Policy and CCSS
Race to the Top
• States do not have to adopt common standards to be
eligible; but get points for doing so, more points for
joining larger consortium (e.g. CCSSO/NGA).
• Points for supporting transition to new
standards/assessments.
• Same criteria applied to assessments.
• Make up 70 points of 500 points total.
24. Federal Policy and CCSS
NCLB waivers
• develop and implement rigorous college- & career-ready
standards & assessments in reading & math.
• adopt English language proficiency standards aligned to
new standards and assessments to support ELL
students.
25. CCSS will cost the country
$16 billion to implement
Hard to say
SOURCE: Pioneer Institute, 2012
26. CCSS assessments might
save dollars
$27 current per pupil cost for state
assessments (Brookings Institute)
$11-20 estimated per pupil for
CCSS assessment (PARCC - SMARTER)
SOURCES: Brookings Institute, 2012; PARCC, 2012; Education Week, December 7, 2012
27. Other implementation costs
• new curriculum and materials
• technology
• professional development
other cost considerations
• were your standards due for an overhaul anyway?
• are these things your state needs?
30. Fordham Institute:
CCSS to state standards
• CCSS ―clearly superior‖ to 39 states‘ standards
in math and 37 states in ELA
• CCSS ―clearly inferior‖ to 3 states in ELA
• All others were about the same
SOURCE: Fordham Institute, The State of state standards – and the common core, 2010
32. Balance of texts
percent of time on percent of time on
grade level
literary reading reading for information
elementary 50% 50%
middle school 45% 55%
high school 30% 70%
NAEP 2009 reading framework, recommended by common core standards, 2012
33. Balance of
writing modes
writing to
writing to writing to
grade level convey
persuade explain
experience
elementary 30% 35% 35%
middle school 35% 35% 30%
high school 40% 40% 20%
NAEP 2009 writing framework, recommended by common core standards, 2012
34. What’s different?
English language arts
Standards for reading and writing in history/social
studies, science, and technical subjects
• Complement rather than replace content standards in those
subjects
• Responsibility of teachers in those subjects
Emphasis on research and using evidence
Attention to text complexity
SOURCE: Common Core Standards, June 2010
35. Why emphasize reading for
information?
literary experience/
acquire & use information
reflect & evaluate
US 4th grade ranking
2nd 5th
PIRLS, 2010
US 15-year-olds ranking
6th 14th
PISA, 2009
US students do well internationally in reading literature but fall behind
in reading for information.
Rankings based on statistically significant differences in scores between US and other countries.
36. Sample texts, grade 6-8
SOURCE: Common core state standards, ELA, Appendix B, www.corestandards.org
37. PARRC/ELA assessment
guidelines
Two CCSS standards are always in play—whether
they be reading or writing items:
– Reading Standard One (Use of Evidence)
– Reading Standard Ten (Complex Texts)
SOURCE: PARRC, August 2012
38. PARRC/grade 10
constructed response
Use what you have learned from reading “Daedalus and Icarus”
by Ovid and “To a Friend Whose Work Has Come to Triumph” by
Anne Sexton to write an essay that provides an analysis of how
Sexton transforms Daedalus and Icarus.
* * *
Develop your essay by providing textual evidence from both
texts. Be sure to follow the conventions of standard English.
SOURCE: PARRC sample item, 2012
39. The CCSS do not require
cursive writing. True
Schools cannot teach
cursive writing. Not true
41. Comparison of CCSS-math to
top-achieving countries
• Are world-class
• Can potentially elevate the academic
performance of America‘s students
• Most states have a long way to go: some less
SOURCE: William H. Schmidt, Michigan State University, analysis for Achieve, Inc. 2012
42. Comparison of CCSS-math to
top-achieving countries
Top-achieving countries CCSS
SOURCE: William H. Schmidt, Michigan State University, analysis for Achieve, Inc. 2012
43. What’s in the standards –
Mathematics
• Number & quantity
• Algebra - algebraic thinking K-5
• Functions
• Modeling - high school
• Geometry
• Statistics & probability
• Emphasis on Mathematical practice
SOURCE: Common Core Standards, June 2010
44. pre-calculus, calculus, advanced
statistics, discrete math, advanced
quantitative reasoning, specific
technical POS
Pathways
through Algebra II Math III
high school Geometry Math II
mathematics
Algebra I Math I
Traditional sequence Integrated sequence
• 2 algebra courses • 3 integrated courses
• 1 geometry course • all include number,
• DPS included algebra, geometry, DPS
• 1 higher course • 1 higher course
SOURCE: Common Core Standards, Mathematics Appendix A, 2010
45. The emphasis on mathematical
practices is fuzzy math.
Let’s take a look
46. Before CCSS
Which of the following numbers will round to 26?
a) 25.3
b) 25.5
c) 26.7
d) 27.1
46
SOURCE: Virginia SOL released items, grade 4 math, 2010
47. After CCSS
Capacity of different baseball stadiums
San Francisco Giants‘ stadium: 41,915 seats
Washington Nationals‘ stadium: 41,888 seats
San Diego Padres‘ stadium: 42,445 seats
Jeff said, ―I get the same number when I round all three numbers of seats
in these stadiums.‖
Sara said, ―When I round them, I get the same number for two of the
stadiums but a different number for the other stadium.‖
Can Jeff and Sara both be correct? Explain how you know.
47
SOURCE: The Mathematics Common Core Toolbox, grade 4
48. What’s different?
• Both assess rounding
• The second further requires the ability to reason
mathematically, critique the reasoning of others,
and communicate their own reasoning
48
54. Technology needs
• 33 states offer some level of online testing
• Most don‘t assess all students
• Most are voluntary
• Most are summative only
• Most schools will need more computers &
more bandwidth
54
SOURCE: SETDA, Technology Requirements for Large Scale, Computer-Based & Online Assessment, June 2011
55. Conditions for Success
• Professional development for staff
– Do teachers have sufficient time and support to learn
new standards?
• Aligned assessments & curriculum
• Aligned instructional materials
• Supports for students
55
56. Managing initial expectations
ACT’s ‘first look’ at the common core standards
English language arts
Percent of 2009 11th graders scoring at college-career ready benchmark
51 53
38
reading writing language
SOURCE: ACT, Inc., A First Look at the Common Core and College and Career Readiness, December 2010
57. NAEP performance v. common core
standards – Mathematics
Percent of 2009 8th graders answering NAEP/common core items correctly
58 54
number algebra
SOURCE: Brown Center on Education Policy, How well are American students learning? January, 2011
58. Lessons from Kentucky:
1st year CCSS scores show decline
in proficiency rates
KCCT 2010-11 K-PREP 2011-12
76 73 70
65
48 47
40 41
elementary-reading elementary-math middle school- middle school-math
reading
SOURCE: Education Week, Scores drop on KY‘s common core-aligned tests, November 19, 2012
59. Create the public will to
succeed
• Short term consequences
• Long term (mutual) benefits
• Engage local media in your efforts
SOURCE: David Baird, Kentucky School Boards Association, 2013
60. Hold the system
accountable
Monitor district‘s progress toward successful
implementation of the new standards
• What kind of reports is the board receiving?
• How does the superintendent‘s evaluation reflect
implementation of the standards?
• Establish relationships with key stakeholders
SOURCE: David Baird, Kentucky School Boards Association, 2013
61. Learn as a Board team
• State Level Collaboration
• Include relevant topics on board agendas &
work sessions
• Use multiple sources of information
⁻ State Department of Education
⁻ Center for Public Education
62. Watch this space
Stay up to date about progress in
common core implementation
and policy
www.centerforpubliceducation.org/commoncore
Download videos, presentations
and other data resources
www.data-first.org/learning-center
Editor's Notes
In the last year, more information about the CCSS is being reported … not all of it accurately. School boards need to explain CCSS to their communities so this presentation will go through some of the statements being circulated about CCSS and attempt to identify what is true, what is not and what is still unknown.
This is where a lot of your work as school board members comes in.
Common core standards developed in 2009-2010 with NGA/CCSSO money and major support from foundationsIn 2009 49 states committed to be part of the process, but did not to adoption. States formally adopted CCSS after the final draft was released summer 2010.
MN – adopted ELA only as of Jan 2012
KS, MO, SD, IN, AL GA – legislative efforts to rescindGrassroots opposition emerging in other states
AL, GA – failed to passSD, IN – passed legislatures, but not yet signed into law, as of April 3KS, MO – introduced, no vote yet
Effort launched in 2009. An advisory group has provided advice and guidance to shape the initiative. Members of this group include experts from Achieve, Inc., ACT, the College Board, the National Association of State Boards of Education and the State Higher Education Executive Officers. Foundations included Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
NSBA’s official position.
Related to although not part of the CCSS, a collaboration of the above organizations and states are developing common standards for science. According to the collaboration website, the difference is that the development is driven more by the scientific and ed research communities. The standards are based on NRC’s framework for K-12 science education released July 2011. No plans for assessments at this point.
As of Nov 2011.
State consortia to develop common ‘next generation’ assessments. Will address needs for: rapid feedback diagnostic Will be administered by computer
As of Jan 2012
As of January 2012
Federal grants
Panel convened by the US Department of Education for the purpose of making sure the processes being used by the consortia are valid.
Adopting CCSS was an easy way to score some points on state applications, but not the only way. Neither were CCSS a deciding factor.
For both RTTT grants and NCLB waivers. Common core not required, but it did represent an easy way to meet the criterion.
10 broad areas of flexibility include: waive 2014 deadline of 100% proficiency; waive identification of schools for improvement; free up 20% set-aside for choice and tutoring, 10% for professional development, etc. Note that Virginia s one of four states that did not adopt CCSS but was granted NCLB waivers.
There’s a good chance there will be economies of scale. Some costs are replacement dollars for things states and districts are already doing.
Brookings estimates that participation in consortia can reduce costs by 25-37%Economies of scale may produce richer, better assessments at less cost But ….
For example,CA standards were well-reviewed but written in late 1990s and is now a CCSS state. VA is not a CCSS state, but went through a college-career alignment of its SOLs in 2009-10.
There are political arguments for and against having national standards. I am just going to address the quality of the standards themselves, which have also come under some criticism. A lot of the critics cite a review commissioned by the Pioneer Institute and authored by Sandra Stotsky and Ze’evWurman. Both have strong credentials. But most of their criticisms are a misreading of the CCSS , as I will explain.
3 states with better ELA were California, DC and Indiana.
This criticism has been widely reported.Conservative grassroots concerns, also English teachers
Pushback from English teachers who argue that students won’t engage in informational reading. 2 considerations: The proportion refers to total reading, meaning English teachers should not be the only ones responsible for the reading standards. Also true with writing. Teachers of other subjects will need professional development and coaching.
Reflects importance of persuasive and expository writing in college, workplace and day-to-day life
English teachers would be right to be concerned IF they were responsible for all of reading/writing at secondary level.ACT, Inc. has found that ability to read complex texts predictive of college success and increasingly, in the workplace, too.
This does not mean we can do less with reading literature or want to. It does argue for expanding ELA instruction across the curriculum.
Suggested reading from CCSS authors. Poetry includes classic American poems and a diverse range of voices. Informational reading in social studies emphasizes biography, autobiography and primary historical documents, eg. Preamble of the Constitution and 1st amendment (not shown here but listed for grade 6-8). Science writing addresses engineering and math by some really good writers. This list is anything but boring.
Using evidence is important in ELA and in mathematics as we will see.
A forecast of the new assessments.
This has also been widely reported. States and districts are still free to require cursive if they want to.
William Schmidt is the foremost US authority on international math & science education, especially TIMSS. He was the first to observe that math curriculum in the US is a mile wide and an inch deep – something the CCSS are intended to correct by defining expectations that are focused and coherent.
Schmidt and his team created these visual maps of various math topics. They show considerable coherence between topics addressed by top-achieving countries in their curricula and the CCSS. A map of state standards was, quite literally, all over the map.
“Focused” – attempt to address the ‘mile wide, inch deep’ curriculumUnderstanding the math common core:“Students who have completed 7th grade and mastered the content and skills of the K-7 standardswill be well prepared for algebra in grade 8 or after.”Functions – describing situations where one quantity determines another, eg., return on investments
The CCSS authors show two possible ways to organize high school math curriculum aligned to the CCSS. U.S. sequence: two algebra courses and a geometry course,With data, probability and statistics added;Typical international sequence: three courses, each ofwhich includes number, algebra, geometry, probability and statistics.States and districts are not precluded from offering 8th grade algebra or offering higher-level courses for students.
Virginia grade 4 math item on rounding. This is a fairly typical test item. Similar items can be found on most current state assessments.
Common core example, same gradelevel and math concept.
CCSS item assess both math content and practices. SOL item only assesses content.
Content, adding and/or multiplying fractions. Computer administered item. Check these out on the SMARTER Balanced website.
The targets expressed by the CCSS are probably the right ones for college-career readiness. Whether they will be met will be determined by how well they are implemented and assessed.
This is where a lot of your work as school board members comes in.
What has to happen in the interim
2012 CEP survey – availability of computers cited as number one challenge followed closely by adequate internet access and bandwidthEarly findings to Technology Readiness Survey indicate that hardware may not be a problem, but bandwidth remains a concern
Districts will need to provide resources to their staffs and students in order to implement CCSS. As school boards, you need to have a process in place to assure that professional development and instructional resources are aligned to CCSS. You also need to establish policies governing use and access, for example, high-stakes v. low-stakes assessment, identifying students for interventions, etc.
ACT’s college-career ready benchmark is based on a 75% probability of earning a ‘C’ in the relevant credit-bearing freshman course. Please note that there are NO performance levels established for the CCSS, and so this is a very preliminary look. Nonetheless, it offers a glimpse at the potential alignment between CCSS and current practices.
Brown Center at Brookings Institute, crosswalked NAEP released items with common core standards and reported 2009 8th grade performance on test items addressing concepts and topics that appear in the CCSS. The National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) is administered by US Department of Education and tests a representative sample of students in each state.
Kentucky got the word out to expect scores to go down the first year. As a result, despite some grumbling, no one panicked when it happened.
KSBA helped their school board members communicate expectations and goals to the public and media so no one was surprised when the first scores came out. They also communicated the need for CCSS and the long-term strategy for getting there, keeping their eyes on the prize.