The Common Core State Standards, which have been adopted by more than 40 states, are one of the most important reforms to American public education in decades. However, despite the many benefits of the Common Core, its bipartisan support, and the widespread adoption and integration into state plans to redesign their education systems, the success of the standards is in jeopardy. Several states are reconsidering their commitment to the Common Core standards and the aligned assessments.
As a result of an uneven implementation process, parents are unfamiliar with the standards, and educators across the country have concerns that they have received inadequate support and have not been sufficiently engaged in the implementation process. Further, many teachers are apprehensive about the use of student performance on the new assessments in teacher evaluation.
These are all valid concerns, but the good news is that they can be addressed. While it is true that the transition to the standards and assessments is difficult, states and districts across the country are using promising and effective practices to implement the Common Core.
Carmel Martin, Max Marchitello, and Melissa Lazarín of the Center for American Progress have prepared a report, “Roadmap for a Successful Transition to the Common Core in States and Districts” which provides examples of states or districts that are charting a practical course to realize the benefits of the Common Core and improve the quality of education for all students.
Specifically, states and districts should:
- Administer better, fairer, and fewer tests.
- Continue to improve and implement education evaluation and support systems but phase in high-stakes consequences for teachers and students that are based on the new Common Core-aligned assessments.
- Maintain accountability systems based on disaggregated student results on state assessments using the outcomes of the system to target more dollars and resources to students and schools that are struggling.
- Ensure that teachers are engaged in the development of—and have access to—comprehensive curricula and instructional materials aligned with the Common Core standards.
- Invest in training and ongoing professional development for educators.
- Provide teachers with more time for ongoing professional development as well as to plan and collaborate together.
- Engage educators, parents, and other stakeholders in the implementation effort.
- Assist districts and schools to further develop their technological capacity to support the new computer-based Common Core assessments and provide instructional tools that allow for more individual instruction.
- Leverage additional resources to improve the Common Core implementation process.
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