The Center on Education Policy (CEP) at George Washington University has prepared three new reports based on state survey data about the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). The reports focus on state implementation efforts and professional development issues related to CCSS.
“Year 3 of Implementing the Common Core State Standards: An Overview of States’ Progress and Challenges“ revealed that most states that have adopted the CCSS in math and English language arts (ELA) are already teaching to the standards.
“Year 3 of Implementing the Common Core State Standards: Professional Development for Teachers and Principals“ revealed that 37 states consider it a challenge to provide enough high-quality professional development to help teachers implement the CCSS, and 31 states said that providing all math and ELA teachers with state-sponsored professional development was proving challenging.
“Year 3 of Implementing the Common Core State Standards: State Education Agencies’ Views on the Federal Role“ revealed that education officials in a majority of states that have adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) say it is unlikely that their state will reverse, limit, or change its decision to adopt the standards this year or next, and very few of the state leaders said that overcoming resistance to the standards posed a major challenge in their state.
The reports also find that these states are preparing teachers and principals to implement these standards. State education agencies, however, are struggling to secure adequate state staffing and resources to implement the standards and to ensure all math and ELA teachers receive training in CCSS.
The reports are based on a survey of state deputy superintendents or their designees in 40 of the 46 states that have adopted the CCSS in one or both subjects. The survey was conducted in February through May of 2013. To date, 45 states and the District of Columbia have adopted the CCSS, in both English language arts and math. The survey respondents included 39 states that have adopted these standards in both subjects and one that has adopted the English language arts standards only.
Most of the 40 states that responded to the CEP survey also indicated support for particular legislative changes to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act that would directly assist state and district efforts to transition to the CCSS.
The reports are available at cep-dc.org.
