Common Core State Standards: CASE21 Prepares to Transition

CASE21’s three partner states of North Carolina, Mississippi, and South Carolina all have adopted the Common Core State Standards. As these states prepare to transition to the new educational standards, CASE21 also is preparing to align our Pacing Guides, Benchmark Assessments and the Question Item Bank & Assessment Maker to the standards.

In fact, that transition is scheduled for Fall 2011. Just like CASE21’s Benchmark Assessments and Question Item Bank, the new Common Core Standards focus on higher-order skills.

“The standards will provide more clarity about and consistency in what is expected of student learning across the country.”

Common Core Standards Initiative

Background

The Common Core State Standards are designed to help ensure that students in every state have access to the same set of standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics, K-12. Many mistakenly believe that the standards were developed by the federal government. The federal government had no role in the standards. This is a state-led initiative facilitated by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices. State adoption is voluntary. Standards in subject areas beyond English Language Arts and Mathematics may be developed in the future.

Standards Goal

Until now, all states developed their own standards and there was no consistency in what was taught in individual states. The Common Core Standards initiative “will allow states to share information effectively and help provide all students with an equal opportunity for an education that will prepare them to go to college or enter the workforce, regardless of where they live,” according to the Common Core Standards website. The new standards will ensure more consistency in the curriculum. The new standards clearly communicate what is expected of students at each grade. The standards:

Are aligned with college and work expectations
Are clear, understandable and consistent
Include rigorous content and application of knowledge through higher-order skills
Build upon strengths and lessons of current state standards
Are informed by other top performing countries, and
Are evidence-based.

Teacher Involvement

Teachers, principals, superintendents, and others will decide how the standards are to be met. Teachers will continue to prepare lesson plans and lead their classrooms. Many teachers were involved in developing the standards through the National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and the National Council of Teachers of English.

More Information

For more information on the new Common Standards, visit www.corestandards.org