In 2010 and 2011, the US Department of Education awarded five grants to consortia of states to support the development of new assessment systems. The two comprehensive assessment consortia are well-known—Smarter Balanced and the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC)—but the other three (two alternate assessment consortia and one for English Read more about Coming Together to Raise Achievement[…]
On May 30, the Fordham Institute released a new report evaluating the potential cost of implementing the Common Core, the first in a wave of such evaluations. This report addresses three key questions: What are the short-term costs of moving to the Common Core? In other words, what will be the initial expenses (instructional materials, Read more about Putting a Price Tag on the Common Core[…]
David Coleman, one of the main writers of the Common Core, has been appointed president of the College Board and will take his post in October. His new position will involve a continued focus on college readiness, as well as some role in ensuring that the Common Core is reflected in the exams and curricula Read more about Common Core Architect Appointed President of the College Board[…]
The American Youth Policy Forum (AYPF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing professional learning opportunities for teachers, policymakers, and other education leaders, has revamped its website to be more user-friendly. The site is more interactive and has more functionality for users, who can now: Perform a dynamic search of all resources for materials that fit Read more about American Youth Policy Forum Revamps Site[…]
Instructional approaches usually associated with special education are gaining traction as states and districts are faced with implementing the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), reports Education Week. Two strategies, universal design for learning (UDL) and response to intervention (RTI), have been frequently cited in NCLB waiver requests for CCSS implementation in the section about how Read more about Special Education Approaches Go Mainstream[…]
As states begin to implement the Common Core, there has been an increased focus on English Language Learners, or ELLs, in the classroom. An estimated 25% of children in America live in households where a language other than English is spoken. How can “regular” classroom teachers support the needs of these students? A new report Read more about Preparing Teachers to Meet the Needs of ELLs[…]
The two multistate organizations tasked with developing math and ELA assessment systems to support the Common Core, Smarter Balanced and the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC), have been hard at work over the past several months. To help keep interested parties updated on their activities, Smarter Balanced has launched a Read more about Smarter Balanced and PARCC Updates[…]
Education Week is hosting several webinars in the coming weeks that address the Common Core and the preparations of people who work with children in after-school or recreational programs. See full descriptions and registration information below. From Paper to Practice: Implementing the Common Core State Standards in English/Language Arts May 1, 2012 @ 2:00 pm Read more about May Webinars[…]
In a recent meeting of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) to share ideas on how best to implement the Common Core, executive director of CCSSO Gene Wilhoit delivered a frank message: states need to take stronger positions on regulating teacher preparation and licensing standards within their jurisdiction and need to utilize their Read more about Call to States: Revolutionize Teacher and Principal Prep[…]
On March 27, Education Sector held a panel discussion to discuss the challenges facing states as we head towards 2014. Between now and 2014, states will be facing the challenges of new Common Core standards, new assessments, new accountability systems, new teacher evaluations, new data systems, and for some states, implementing Race to the Top. Read more about Getting to 2014: The Choices and Challenges Ahead[…]
Last month, Common Core.org hosted a panel discussion that focused on those subjects not included in the Common Core State Standards: history, science, and the arts. Panelists included David Coleman, lead writer of the CCSS in English Language Arts; Lynn Munson, President and Executive Director of Common Core; Lewis Huffman, Education Associate for Social Studies Read more about Truant from School: History, Science and Art[…]
Last week the GE Foundation, the charity associated with General Electric, announced they intend to donate $18 million to support the implementation of the Common Core. Though some critics are expected to be up in arms over a private corporation getting involved in education reform, Time’s Andrew Rotherham believes the gift will put into sharp Read more about Can GE Bring Common Core to Life?[…]
Education First and the Editorial Projects in Education Research Center have released a joint study on the progress of implementation planning for the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Forty-seven states have adopted the standards so far. Not only did the study look at curriculum realignment to fit the new standards, but also at how teacher Read more about A National Perspective on CCSS Implementation Planning[…]
See below for two upcoming opportunities: “Mapping Curriculum, Planning Success: Integrating the Common Core Standards in Each K-12 Classroom” Date: Wednesday, January 18, 2012 Time: 10:30am – 12:00pm EST This webinar, featuring author and expert Dr. Heidi Hayes Jacobs, will focus on: –Upgrading and transforming education through the lens of 21st century readiness –Text complexity Read more about Upcoming Webinars & Panels: The Common Core and Improving Literacy[…]
In a recent blog post for The Huffington Post, Jack Jennings of the Center on Education Policy reflects on the current “business” of education reform. Benchmarking, once used only in top performing companies, has tricked its way down to education, the most prominent example being the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). The CCSS were written Read more about Have We Gotten It Wrong on School Reform?[…]
Pearson Education is launching a 16-part series of webinars to help educators as they transition to the CCSS. The webinars will be led by experts in literacy, mathematics, professional development, assessment, and English Language Learners. The sessions are free and are intended to provide teachers will tools, strategies, and resources they need to adapt their Read more about Unlocking the Common Core: Free Webinar Series on CCSS[…]