PARCC Assessment Blueprints and Test Specifications Documents

Posted on June 5, 2013 by coreeducation

The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) recently released assessment blueprints and test specifications for both the English language arts/literacy and mathematics assessments set to debut in 2014-15. These blueprints and test specifications will help educators better prepare students for the new online assessments that are aligned to the more rigorous Read more about PARCC Assessment Blueprints and Test Specifications Documents[…]

AFT Weighs In on Common Core

Posted on June 4, 2013 by coreeducation

As arguments about Common Core abound, Randi Weingarten, the President of the American Federation of Teachers, recently called for a moratorium on “the stakes associated with Common Core assessments until the standards are properly implemented and field-tested.” Here is more from the AFT press release: Weingarten delivered this call in a speech sponsored by the Read more about AFT Weighs In on Common Core[…]

Schools Need State Policymakers’ Help to Enable a Better Blend

Posted on June 3, 2013 by coreeducation

Public Impact has released a new report emphasizing the potential of the combination of good teachers with technology. If school districts can incentivize good teachers who make skillful use of technology, they will achieve what Education Secretary Arne Duncan has called the “best combination.” Hiring the right teachers is the start, but from there, teachers Read more about Schools Need State Policymakers’ Help to Enable a Better Blend[…]

Assessments for the 21st Century

Posted on May 20, 2013 by coreeducation

After two-plus years of work, the Gordon Commission recently released a public policy statement designed to “stimulate a productive national conversation about assessment and its relationship to teaching and learning.” The Gordon Commission believes that now is a “remarkable opportunity to re-conceptualize the purposes of educational assessments.” The Gordon Commission on the Future of Assessment Read more about Assessments for the 21st Century[…]

Carnegie Corporation: Rethinking school design to meet demands of new standards

Posted on May 12, 2013 by coreeducation

The Carnegie Corporation of New York has committed $15 million to “catalyze district-based new school design work” that will focus on individualized learning. To support this effort, they have also recently published a report, Opportunity by Design: New High School Models for Student Success. This report calls for a focus on how schools use teaching, Read more about Carnegie Corporation: Rethinking school design to meet demands of new standards[…]

Ten Innovators at the 2013 Ed Tech Industry Summit

Posted on May 10, 2013 by coreeducation

The Education Division of the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) announces winners and finalists in its Innovation Incubator Program. The program was held during the annual flagship Ed Tech Industry Summit, May 5-7, at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. Ten products and services were featured during the event, and awards were presented to Read more about Ten Innovators at the 2013 Ed Tech Industry Summit[…]

Last Chance to Comment on PARCC Draft Grade- and Subject-Specific PLDs

Posted on May 5, 2013 by coreeducation

The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) released the draft grade- and subject-specific performance level descriptors (PLDs) in English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics, and they are available for public comment through May 8, 2013. Performance levels, sometimes referred to as “achievement levels,” are the broad, categorical levels used to report Read more about Last Chance to Comment on PARCC Draft Grade- and Subject-Specific PLDs[…]

Final Next Generation Science Standards Released

Posted on May 2, 2013 by coreeducation

In case you missed it, the final Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), a new set of voluntary, rigorous, and internationally benchmarked standards for K-12 science education, have been released. Twenty six states and their broad-based teams worked together for two years with a 41-member writing team and partners to develop the standards which identify science Read more about Final Next Generation Science Standards Released[…]

Advanced Mathematics for All?

Posted on April 28, 2013 by coreeducation

Mathematics education in the U.S. has always been a complicated issue: on the one hand, there is a general consensus that mathematics is a fundamental skill that all students should possess, yet there is also the common – and false – perception that not all students are “good at math” and that it is unfair Read more about Advanced Mathematics for All?[…]

Should student essays be graded by computers?

Posted on April 24, 2013 by coreeducation

The issue of whether and how much computers should be responsible for student grading has been around for decades, but the recent advent of MOOCs and the upcoming implementation of Common Core tests has brought the issue to the forefront yet again. One MOOC, edX, has recently developed software, which they will make available as Read more about Should student essays be graded by computers?[…]

April Issue Brief: Common Core Implementation

Posted on April 21, 2013 by coreeducation

Forty-five states, four territories, the District of Columbia and DoDEA are currently transitioning to full implementation of the Common Core State Standards. While some groups are further along than others, educators across the country are seeking high quality resources to facilitate this process. In this month’s issue brief, we explore resources and information designed to Read more about April Issue Brief: Common Core Implementation[…]

Department of Education Letter Could Put Cracks in the Credit Hour

Posted on April 18, 2013March 3, 2020 by coreeducation

In an update to the story that this blog has been tracking for some time (see our two past blogs about this subject here and here), the US Department of Education has given its strongest confirmation yet that it is willing to embrace a model of judging educational progress and mastery that transcends the credit Read more about Department of Education Letter Could Put Cracks in the Credit Hour[…]

Amplify Insight to Create Digital Library of Common Core Teaching Materials

Posted on April 9, 2013 by coreeducation

The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (Smarter Balanced) announced the award of a contract to develop a Digital Library of formative assessment practices and professional learning resources for educators. Amplify Insight, formerly known as Wireless Generation, will work with Consortium member states and teachers to create professional development materials and instructional resources aligned to the Common Read more about Amplify Insight to Create Digital Library of Common Core Teaching Materials[…]

DREAM: The Free Cost-modeling Tool for School Districts

Posted on April 7, 2013 by coreeducation

In the current economic climate, with budget cuts a necessity and many states seeing their education budget battles going to state supreme courts, states and districts need help weathering the storm. DREAM hopes to help states and districts do just that with a “new way to explore school budgets.” DREAM was created by Education Resource Read more about DREAM: The Free Cost-modeling Tool for School Districts[…]

Big Names Spar over Common Core

Posted on April 4, 2013 by coreeducation

Two big names in American Education, Diane Ravitch and Marc Tucker, have recently written several articles outlining their opinions on the imminent implementation of the Common Core standards. Ravitch, known as more of an advocate of local educational agency and as an opponent of standardization, kicked things off with a blog post in which she Read more about Big Names Spar over Common Core[…]

PARCC moves forward toward sustainable Common Core Implementation

Posted on March 26, 2013 by coreeducation

As the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) becomes an official 501(c)(3) to become more sustainable, they are also continuing to roll out preparation tools for their expected 2014-15 school year testing. PARCC and Smarter Balanced are the two education consortia charged with creating assessments to measure student attainment of Common Read more about PARCC moves forward toward sustainable Common Core Implementation[…]