Common Core Standards for Review

Shared with the listserv today, and definitely worthy of conversation:

DRAFT K-12 COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT

NGA Center, CCSSO Release First Official Public Draft

WASHINGTON-The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) today released the first official public draft of the K-12 standards as part of the Common Core State Standards Initiative, a process being led by governors and chief state school officers in 51 states, territories, and the District of Columbia.  These draft standards, developed together with teachers, school administrators and experts, seek to provide a clear and consistent framework to prepare our children for college and the workforce.

The NGA Center and CCSSO have received feedback from national organizations representing, but not limited to teachers, postsecondary education (including community colleges), civil rights groups, English language learners, and students with disabilities  The NGA Center and CCSSO encourage those interested in the standards to provide further feedback by Friday, April 2, 2010, at www.corestandards.org.

“We are pleased to release the K-12 standards today and to begin reviewing comments from the public,” said Dane Linn, director of the NGA Center’s Education Division. “These standards build upon the goals articulated in the college- and career-readiness standards released last year and will ensure our students are prepared to compete and succeed in a global economy. We look forward to working with educators, leaders and state board members in the states as they consider adopting these standards that will guide their educational programs.”

“The feedback and comments states and our additional stakeholders have provided us are solidifying these standards into the better standards our students need,” stated Gene Wilhoit, executive director of CCSSO. “We will continue to work diligently and tirelessly to ensure these standards are where they need to be, and today we are asking the public to help us do just that.”

These standards define the knowledge and skills students should have within their K-12 education careers so that they will graduate high school able to succeed in entry-level, credit-bearing academic college courses and in workforce training programs. The standards are:

• Aligned with college and work expectations;
• Clear, understandable and consistent;
• Include rigorous content and application of knowledge through high-order skills;
• Build upon strengths and lessons of current state standards;
• Informed by other top performing countries, so that all students are prepared to succeed in our global economy and society; and
• Evidence- and research-based.

The standards are expected to be finalized in early Spring. For more information, visit www.corestandards.org <http://www.corestandards.org/> .

Founded in 1908, the National Governors Association (NGA) is the collective voice of the nation’s governors and one of Washington, D.C.’s most respected public policy organizations. Its members are the governors of the 50 states, three territories and two commonwealths. NGA provides governors and their senior staff members with services that range from representing states on Capitol Hill and before the Administration on key federal issues to developing and implementing innovative solutions to public policy challenges through the NGA Center for Best Practices. For more information, visit www.nga.org.

The Council of Chief State School Officers <http://www.ccsso.org/>  (CCSSO) is a nonpartisan, nationwide, nonprofit organization of public officials who head departments of elementary and secondary education in the states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and five U.S. extra-state jurisdictions. CCSSO provides leadership, advocacy, and technical assistance on major educational issues. The Council seeks member consensus on major educational issues and expresses their views to civic and professional organizations, federal agencies, Congress, and the public. www.ccsso.org.

________________________________

Jay Bansbach
Candidate for AASL Board Member-at-Large
2009 AASL National Conference Co-Chair
Member AASL Legislative Committee

1875 Potomac Rd. Pasadena, MD. 21122
(410) 255-8836
cjbansbach@yahoo.com <mailto:cjbansbach@yahoo.com>

WOW.

Current SCASL president Amanda Leblanc followed up with some clarifying remarks to someone who questions “why more standards?”

I believe the idea behind these standards are to help with that situation – the idea being that these would be common, internationally benchmarked standards that would then be voluntarily adopted by the states that signed on. While I don’t think there’s an end to individual state standards in sight, this to me is a monumental step forward. There are folks in our state who worked on these standards – if you’re on the list – chime in with your thoughts.

The conversation continues, with Frank Baker adding that viewing literacy is pointedly absent, and James Bryan that our state is on board, with our governor and state supt of education fully in favor.  Where will this lead–particularly in an upcoming election year for both offices?  Should that even matter?  Interesting debate and information unfolding. be sure to read and react to the core standards.

written by:

Cathy Nelson, Dorman High School

Making the MOST of your conference

The SCASL Annual Conference is fast approaching–3.5 weeks away! Yeah um, I need to be working on my own preso. I’m trying to plan my trip–I get to hangout with my sister who lives in Charleston. It is so difficult to stay away from our conference as each year I am amazed at the content flowing, the networking happening, and the pride I have in our annual event. I will once again short-change my sister. I can’t help it. We have just too great a conference to stay away!

So this is an attempt to collect tips for a successful conference. Here are mine:

• Once the conference schedule and concurrent session guide is posted online, take some time to pre-plan.  Read over the events, sessions, and activities, and make yourself a schedule of sorts that includes topic, time, room # and presenter. Be sure to store this in a place where you’ll be able to find it.  I will probably store mine in a Google Docs, and then I’ll be able to access it from my laptop or my phone.
• Once the conference begins, I put a small slip of paper in my id badge that lists times, room #s, and speakers so with one quick glance down (through the back of my clear badge holder), I know where I am going next.  It beats flipping through the book between sessions, or worse, flipping through the book planning my next session and MISSING part of the one I’m in.
• Lighten your load! When you arrive you’ll get a conference bag piled with announcements, fliers, etc.  Take it all out (except what you NEED).  You’ll be amazed at how rapidly your bag fill each day
• Take a brightly colored ribbon to tie around your handle.  When all those bags are sitting together in rows, it can be confusing figuring out which is yours.  Make yours noticeable. A cute ribbon can do the trick.
• Wear comfy shoes.  As you mingle with friends or cruise through the exhibit hall, your feet will appreciate being in a  comfy pair of shoes.
• Layers! While the spring temps may make us want to lose the winter attire, often times the meeting spaces vary in temperature.  Wear removable jackets or sweaters so you’ll be comfortable no matter the clime.
• Create and carry business cards or stickers with your contact information.  This will make signing up for drawings a quick and painless snap. Give some to your friends and new acquaintances too.
• If you are a pack horse–you just can’t say no to ‘give-aways’ in the exhibit hall, then carry an extra suitcase, box, or container.  Usually I go out for dinner with friends a couple of times while at conference. Every time I’m leaving my hotel room, I try to take a pack of stuff to the car. Sometimes it’s items picked up at the conference, and sometimes it’s as simple as dirty clothes or shoes I know I won’t wear again while there. It makes packing that last morning a lot easier.

So, what are you best conference tips?

Written by Cathy Nelson
Dorman High School