Common Core State Standards: Resources for School Leaders

The Salinas Union High School District is one of the few in Monterey County already implementing the Common Core Standards, a new set of goals intended to prepare students for college and career as they move through 12 years of education. Rather than focusing on how much students learn, the Common Core Standards focus on how well they learn it.

All schools in the district are implementing Common Core in math and English, said Dan Burns, associate superintendent of instructional services, although there's still much to do.

The developers of tests aligned to the Common Core State Standards wrestle with how to provide assistive technology for students with disabilities, while assuring test security.

I am not against having better learning standards, but I also believe that we cannot be distracted from more fundamental reform of our schools.  My recent book with Paul Peterson and Ludger Woessmann, Endangering Prosperity, argues that the future economic well-being of the U.S. is entirely dependent on improving the achievement and skills of today’s students.  The Common Core per se does little to ensure improved student outcomes.

A new study finds improved math scores for students in schools with expanded learning.

July 1, 2012

Many teachers still have a lot of questions about what Common Core will mean for them; these resources are a good place to look for answers.

“Going Deep” focuses on a common challenge many teachers face: How can teachers encourage students to take the intellectual risks necessary to master rigorous academic content? At a time when teachers nationwide are striving to achieve the increased instructional rigor required under new Common Core standards, it’s a crucial topic.

"Students who are college and career ready employ technology thoughtfully to enhance their reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language use. They tailor their searches online to acquire useful information efficiently, and they integrate what they learn using technology with what they learn offline. They are familiar with the strengths and limitations of various technological tools and mediums and can select and use those best suited to their communication goals.”               

-Common Core State Standards

UDL helps address learner variability by suggesting flexible goals, methods, materials, and assessments that empower educators to meet these varied needs.