In an interesting editorial for the New York Times online, Sara Mosle takes up the debate around one of the key shifts in reading instruction advocated by the Common Core — a shift that calls for much more focus on non-fiction and less emphasis on fictional texts. This shift has inspired a heated debate, but Read more about Does Common Core Overemphasize Non-Fiction?[…]
The results of the 2011-2012 Kentucky Performance Rating of Education Progress (K-PREP) test have recently been released, raising questions about the upcoming nationwide transition to tests geared toward the Common Core standards. Kentucky, in 2010, was the first state to officially adopt an educational curriculum determined by the Common Core Standards for English/Language Arts and Read more about First Results from Common Core-Aligned Testing[…]
The successful implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) represents a landmark opportunity for collaboration between the higher education and K-12 sectors. Delivering on the promise of college-ready standards means students are prepared for entry-level, credit-bearing college work, and that K-12 schools and higher education institutions are more aligned on the education they deliver. Read more about The Role of Higher Education in Common Core Implementation[…]
The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (Smarter Balanced) released a set of sample assessment items and performance tasks online yesterday. Developed in collaboration with educators and content experts, the sample items and tasks are meant to help teachers, administrators, and policymakers better understand the Common Core State Standards and prepare for the implementation of the Smarter Read more about Smarter Balanced Releases Sample Assessment Items and Performance Tasks[…]
This second in a series of two-page briefs from the National Education Policy Center summarizes current research findings on the likely effects of the widespread adoption of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). The brief, written by Dr. William Mathis, managing director of the National Education Policy Center, notes that there is no research directly Read more about Brief Explores Likely Results of CCSS[…]
Two state consortia—Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers and the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium—have made great strides to develop new assessment systems ready for use in two years. Over the summer, for example, they released sample items and tasks and are putting together teams of educators to help prepare districts and Read more about Free Webinar: The Comprehensive Assessment Consortia[…]
The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) recently released sample assessment items. They come complete with a new way of categorizing questions, both for mathematics — where the questions are of Type I, Type II or Type III — and in ELA, where they are EBSRs, TECRs and PCRs. For a Read more about PARCC Task and Question Types[…]
With the new school year just starting, the majority of educators across the country are hard at work implementing the new K-12 Common Core State Standards (CCSS). The new standards have sparked a range of resources and tools to support CCSS-aligned instruction, as well as drawn a lot of media attention, particularly in the last Read more about Implementing the Common Core[…]
Education Week is again offering new “Spotlights on Education” for free. Spotlights are collections of recent articles grouped by theme to give readers an in-depth look at education issues. Featured Spotlights include: The Education Week Spotlight on Personalized Learning – a collection of articles hand-picked by Ed Week editors for their insights on: Digital badges Read more about Featured Education Week ‘Spotlights’[…]
The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC), a 23-state consortium working together to create next generation assessments, released its first set of item and task prototypes for both English language arts/literacy and mathematics. The prototypes are illustrative of how the critical content and skills found in the Common Core State Standards Read more about PARCC Releases Initial Set of Test Items and Task Prototypes[…]
As teachers head back to their classrooms, a prevailing question is how to implement the Common Core and prepare students for the associated exams—which aren’t ready yet. Two consortia tasked with developing common assessments to support the Common Core (PARCC and Smarter Balanced) have begun to work with private vendors to develop the questions and Read more about Consortia Provide Preview of Common Assessments[…]
Achieve has released new resources directed toward the business community, to inform and rally more advocates for education reform. The Business Resources for a College- and Career-Ready America include modular resources for business leaders to use as they engage their internal and external networks of colleagues, peers, employees, and employers around the college- and career-ready Read more about Business Resources for a College- and Career-Ready America[…]
The first public draft of the common science standards is facing criticism for “lack of clarity and coherence” and omitting key content knowledge in favor of “an overdose on scientific ‘practices.’” However, these critiques are not being viewed as unfriendly—rather, the two organizations offering the feedback (the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and the Fordham Read more about Draft of Common Core Science Standards Draws ‘Friendly Fire’[…]
What does it mean to be “college ready?” This is the question that became the center of debate at the June meeting of leaders from the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC), one of the consortia tasked with creating assessment systems for the new Common Core. The meeting was held to Read more about The Meaning of “College Readiness”[…]
As the discussion of the Common Core and associated assessment systems heats up, I wanted to share these valuable resources. They were compiled by Achieve, the US Education Delivery Institute, and Education First, and are hyperlinked in the press release below: As states move forward with their implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), Read more about Resources to Prepare for the Common Core[…]
The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC), a 24-state consortium working together to create next generation assessments in English language arts/literacy and mathematics, has selected the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) to lead the facilitation and management of the Educator Leader Cadres (ELCs). Through this effort, NMSI will support state Read more about PARCC selects NMSI to Manage Educator Leader Cadres[…]