Common Core

What is all the talk about the Common Core?

As you begin to hear and learn about the Common Core State Standards a good place to start is http://www.corestandards.org/

The Common Core State Standards, also known as CCCS, are designed to “provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers. With American students fully prepared for the future, our communities will be best positioned to compete successfully in the global economy.”(citation: http://www.corestandards.org/). Vermont formally adopted the CCSS in August 2010. 

Rather than focusing on the individual standards themselves, we urge parents and community members to envision a young adult at the end of their schooling:

What does a 12th grader look like when he/she is “College and Career
Ready?” http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/introduction/students-who-are-college-and-career-ready-in-reading-writing-speaking-listening-language

As a parent or community member, if you are you curious about learning goals at each grade level under the Common Core, the National PTA has produced a guide for each grade level concerning the Common Core. http://pta.org/parents/content.cfm?ItemNumber=2910

Chittenden East Supervisory Union educators and leaders are working to develop and align our curriculum and our instructional strategies to the Common Core State Standards.  Work began last year and continues through this year in the form of teacher driven curriculum development and alignment, professional development, teacher participation in lesson study (embedded professional development), readings and reflective practices.

For a list of frequently asked questions regarding CCSS please go to: http://www.corestandards.org/resources/frequently-asked-questions