Understanding the Common Core State Standards. The US economy and our education system are directly linked U.S. workers lack the education and skills.

Understanding the Common Core State

Standards

The US economy and our education system are directly linked

U.S. workers lack the education and skills needed to compete successfully in the U.S. economy.

• By 2020, 80% of jobs will require post-secondary education• 53% of business leaders reported difficulties in recruiting

employees with the needed skills, technical training, and education;1

• The U.S. now ranks 12th out of 36 OECD countries in the number of 25-34 year-olds with a college degree;2

• By 2018 there will be 3 million fewer college graduates than required by the labor market.3

The recent U.S. economic downturn will only worsen if the deficit of high-skilled, educated workers continues.

The education landscape is shifting and your child will need different skills to be poised for success

How can we improve the U.S education and economic situation?

Common, globally

competitive academic

standards will strengthen the knowledge and skill set of U.S

students.

The Common Core State Standards are an effort to ensure that all U.S students receive the quality education needed to succeed in future

endeavors.

Students will leave

school fully prepared to engage in

college and the workforce.

A high-skilled and educated workforce will increase U.S

economic competitiveness on the local and national

level.

What are the Common Core State Standards?

• The Common Core State Standards Initiative (the “Standards”) is a state-led effort coordinated by the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). www.corestandards.org

• The Standards are benchmarked to those of the most highly competitive nations globally

• As of January 2012, forty-six states and the District of Columbia have adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), a consistent set of English language arts (ELA) and mathematics expectations for grades K-12 that students need to meet to succeed in college and careers

• States have committed to implement the new standards by the 2014-15 school year

• This is an aggressive timeline that will require a strategy that draws on state policymakers, district and school officials, and classroom teachers to ensure a successful and efficient implementation and transition

States that have adopted the Common Core

* Minnesota adopted the CCSS in ELA only

Common Core State Standards

Common Assessments

Formative Assessments

CCSS serve as the foundation for ongoing national improvements by

ensuring rigorous curriculum, assessments, and teaching.

At a state level, Common Assessments will be based on the

new CCSS and administered throughout the year.

At the local level, formative assessments will take place on an

regular basis, weekly to monthly.

The Common Core State Standards include teaching, assessment and curriculum

Consistency

Competition

Clarity

Equity

• Previously, every state had its own set of standards and set of expectations for student performance

Collaboration

• Common standards can help create more equal access to an excellent education

• All students must be prepared to compete with not only their American peers, but also with students from around the world

• Clear and coherent standards will help students (and parents and teachers) understand what is expected of them

• Common standards create a foundation for districts and states to work collaboratively

Benefits of the Common Core Standards

The GE Foundation is investing in the Standards

The GE Foundation will serve as a leader in supporting the implementation of the Standards

District• Investing in 7 school districts across the country and

providing support to schools and district offices for implementation of the Standards

State• The GE Foundation is working to align district and

state Standards implementation

National• Convening local, regional, & national businesses to

build private sector support for the Standards

• Investing in the national leaders and organizations in support of the Standards

• Informing education policies for the Jobs and Competitiveness Council

Science

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

4thGrade

8thGrade

12thGrade

US

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4thGrade

8thGrade

12thGrade

Math

*Third International Math & Science Study

World Leading Countries

Topics

Whole Number Meaning

Whole Number Operations

Measurement Units

Common Fractions

Equations & Formulas

Data Representation & Analysis

2-D Geometry: Basics

Polygons & Circles

Perimeter, Area & Volume

Rounding & Significant Figures

Estimating Computations

Properties of Whole Number Operations

Estimating Quantity & Size

Decimal Fractions

Relationship of Common & Decimal Fractions

Properties of Common & Decimal Fractions

Percentages

Proportionality Concepts

Proportionality Problems

2-D Coordinate Geometry

Geometry: Transformations

Negative Numbers, Integers & Their Properties

Number Theory

Exponents, Roots & Radicals

Exponents & Orders of Magnitude

Measurement Estimation & Errors

Constructions w/ Straightedge & Compass

3-D Geometry

Congruence & Similarity

Rational Numbers & Their Properties

Patterns, Relations & Functions

Slope & Trigonometry

G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 G6 G7 G8

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Topics

Whole Number Meaning

Whole Number Operations

Measurement Units

Common Fractions

Equations & Formulas

Data Representation & Analysis

2-D Geometry: Basics

Polygons & Circles

Perimeter, Area & Volume

Rounding & Significant Figures

Estimating Computations

Properties of Whole Number Operations

Estimating Quantity & Size

Decimal Fractions

Relationship of Common & Decimal Fractions

Properties of Common & Decimal Fractions

Percentages

Proportionality Concepts

Proportionality Problems

2-D Coordinate Geometry

Geometry: Transformations

Negative Numbers, Integers & Their Properties

Number Theory

Exponents, Roots & Radicals

Exponents & Orders of Magnitude

Measurement Estimation & Errors

Constructions w/ Straightedge & Compass

3-D Geometry

Congruence & Similarity

Rational Numbers & Their Properties

Patterns, Relations & Functions

Slope & Trigonometry

G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 G6 G7 G8

l l l l l l l ll l l l l l l ll l l l l l l ll l l l l l l ll l l l l l l ll l l l l l l ll l l l l l l ll l l l l l l ll l l l l l l ll l l l l l l ll l l l l l l ll l l ll l l l l l l ll l l l l l l ll l l l l l l ll l l l l l l l

l l l ll l l l l l l ll l l l l l l ll l l l l l l ll l l l l l l ll l l l l l l ll l l l l l l ll l l l l l l ll l l l l l l ll l l l l l l ll l l l l l l ll l l l l l l ll l l l l l l ll l l l l l l ll l l l l l l ll l l l l l l l

Typical US State

Compared to a world standards, the US Education System does not

measure up

The US Education System is not globally competitive

Grade

Topic 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Whole Number: Meaning n n n l lWhole Number: Operations n n n n lMeasurement Units s n n n n n lCommon Fractions s n n lEquations & Formulas s l l l n n n n n nData Representation & Analysis s s l l s s s s s2-D Geometry: Basics s l l l n n l2-D Geometry: Polygons & Circles s l l n n n lMeasurement: Perimeter, Area & Volume l l l l s sRounding & Significant Figures l lEstimating Computations l l lWhole Numbers: Properties of Operations l lEstimating Quantity & Size s sDecimal Fractions l n lRelation of Common & Decimal Fractions s n lProperties of Common & Decimal Fractions l lPercentages l lProportionality Concepts l l l sProportionality Problems l l n n s s2-D Geometry: Coordinate Geometry s s l l n l lGeometry: Transformations l l l s s sNegative Numbers, I ntegers, & Their Properties s lNumber Theory l s sExponents, Roots & Radicals l l n lExponents & Orders of Magnitude s s sMeasurement: Estimation & Errors sConstructions Using Straightedge & Compass n s3-D Geometry l n n l n sGeometry: Congruence & Similarity n lRational Numbers & Their Properties s sPatterns, Relations & Functions s n n n nProportionality: Slope & Trigonometry s l lReal Numbers, Their Subsets & Properties lValidation & J ustification l n l lStructuring & Abstracting sUncertainty & Probability s n lComplex Numbers & Their Properties s sI nfinite Processes n nChange n nVectors n sSystematic Counting s s

Intended by 4 out of the 6 top-achieving counties

l Intended by all but one of the top-achieving countries (5 out of 6)

n Intended by all of the top-achieving countries

A Map of What Top-Performing Countries are Teaching

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Culminating Learning ExpectationIntermediate ExpectationsInitial Learning ExpectationRepeated Expectation

A Map of What the US is Teaching for the Addition of Whole Numbers

Addition and Subtraction of Fractions

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StatesCulminating Learning Expectation

Intermediate Expectations

Initial Learning Expectation

Repeat and/or Extension Expectations

From… To…

Majority of what students read is literature. Very little time available for science and social studies instruction.

Building knowledge through content-rich nonfiction

Students spend most of the time writing about personal experiences, opinions not grounded in evidence.

Reading, writing and speaking grounded in evidence from text, both literary and informational

Students read text, without consideration of complexity to prepare for post-secondary expectations and vocabulary instruction is often focused on literary terminology, rather than “academic vocabulary” (alliteration vs. ignite)

Regular practice with complex text and its academic language

Major Changes in Literacy Instruction as a result of the CCSS

The Common Core Standards provide coherent organization and clear student expectations

From… To…

A mile-wide, inch-deep curriculum that speeds through topics, rather than building strong foundation

Focus: Focus strongly where the standards focus

Scattered, isolated topics that don’t build on student understanding

Coherence: Think across grades, and link to major topics

Math curricula that emphasize either fluency or understanding in mathematics and that application is often seen as just “extra”

Rigor: In major topics, pursue conceptual understanding, procedural skill and fluency, and application

Major Changes in Math Instruction as a result of the Standards

The Common Core Standards provide coherent organization and clear student expectations

• The new assessments are being developed by 2 consortia of states

• The new assessments that are aligned to the Standards will be launched in 2014

• Students in grades 3-12 will be assessed each spring

• Assessments will, in full operation, be implemented online

How will my child be assessed on the new Standards?

(3rd grade item)

• A lunch menu has 3 beverages selections: water, juice, and milk. The menu also offers 2 sandwich selections: turkey and peanut butter.

How many different meals on one beverage and one sandwich are possible?

Sample Assessment Question Pre-Standards: Math

Sample Assessment Question Common Core Standards: Math

Most people have a special activity or hobby that they enjoy. Some people collect things while others like to read or play games. What activity do you like to do?

Write a composition describing what you enjoy doing. Explain why that activity is special to you.

Sample Literacy Question: Pre-Common Core Standards

Sample Assessment Question Common Core Standards: Literacy (Text-dependent question)

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

• Why does Tom hesitate to allow Ben to paint the fence? How are his sentences constructed to reflect that hesitation? What effect do Tom’s hesitations have on Ben?

• Refer to the PTA guide on the Standards: http://www.pta.org/common_core_state_standards.asp

• Talk with your child and ask questions about what he/she is learning

• Communicate actively with your child’s teachers about how he/she is integrating the new Standards into the classroom

• Be patient: the new standards (are more rigorous, will introduce a new way of teaching, assessment results will reflect higher expectations)

• Explore Resources: 1. Commonstandards.org2. Commoncore.org3. PTA.org

How Can I Support my Child’s Learning?