The Common Core State Standards in Tennessee An

The Common Core State Standards in Tennessee An Overview

What are the Common Core State Standards? § Standards: • Represent the goal for what students should learn • Set expectations for what students should know and be able to do § The Common Core State Standards are a set of clear standards for Math and English Language Arts. § The standards were developed to ensure every student graduates high school prepared for college or the workforce. 2

Why Common Core? § Because the Common Core State Standards emphasize… • Real-world skills in math, reading, and writing (including math without calculators and a focus on basic reading skills in early grades) • Critical thinking and problem-solving skills • Knowledge and skills needed for success in college and careers 3

How were the standards developed? § The initiative was state-led, and Tennessee was represented by content experts in math and English language arts from the state department of education. § A group of governors from the National Governors Association (NGA) and state commissioners from the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) coordinated development. § The public provided input before the standards were finalized. Comments from Tennessee teachers and parents were included in the revision process. 4

Standards, not Curriculum § Standards versus Curriculum • Standards = goals for what students should learn, set by the state • Curriculum = the road map for meeting those goals, set by local districts and schools § Common Core does not dictate curriculum • Districts, schools, and teachers determine the curriculum using textbooks and other resources and materials. • In accordance with Tennessee Code 49 -6 -2207, textbook adoption is governed strictly by local school boards. • Teachers and central office supervisors make decisions on text selection based on knowledge of their students, student interest, and judgment of appropriate content. 5

Common Core in the Classroom § Implementation began for math and English language arts in 2011 • 2011 -12: Teachers in kindergarten through second grade begin using the standards • 2012 -13: Teachers in third grade through eighth grade begin using the standards for math • 2013 -14: Teachers in third grade through twelfth grade begin using the standards for English language arts; teachers in ninth grade through twelfth grade begin using the standards for math § Teachers from across Tennessee have received training in the Common Core State Standards. • Spring/Summer 2012: more than 13, 000 teachers • Summer 2013: more than 29, 000 teachers 6

How will we know what students are learning? § Tennessee will begin administering a new test in the 2014 -15 school year called PARCC. § PARCC will replace the current TCAP tests for ELA and Math in grades 3 -8 and high school. § The new test, called the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC), is designed to: • Build a pathway to college and career readiness for all students • Create high-quality assessments that measure the full range of Common Core State Standards • Support educators in the classroom • Make better use of technology in assessments • Advance accountability at all levels 7

The PARCC test will… § Be administered online in order to: • Increase flexibility for question types, such as student-supplied answers and drag-and-drop • Reflect the nature of college and career work • Return results to parents and teachers more quickly § Begin in the 2014 -15 school year § Replace TCAP in math, reading, and writing in grades 3 -11. Science and social studies will continue being assessed through TCAP 8

Data Collection § TN has collected student information through TCAP in accordance with state and federal law. New assessments will not change this process. § The federal government does not have access to student-level information housed in state data systems. § The Common Core State Standards are not a tool for data collection. § State implementation of the Common Core State Standards and their related assessments do not require additional data collection beyond what is authorized by current federal law. 9

For additional resources and information, visit: www. TNCore. org www. Expect. More. TN. org Or send questions to: TNCore. Questions@tn. gov 10