A Natural Fit: Service-Learning and the Common Core State Standards

Lisa GuilfoileProject Leader

NCLC, ECS

Molly RyanAssociate Policy Analyst

NCLC, ECS

Emily WorkmanAssociate Policy Analyst

ECS

Introduce Yourself

NameOrganization

Role

One thing you hope to learn from today’s webinar

What is ECS and What Do We Do?

ECS

GovernorsState legislators

Superintendents

Higher Ed

Pre-K College

Unbiased

Service-Learning

Civic Education

Session Objectives

To illustrate why service-learning and the Common Core is a good fit

To examine how incorporating service-learning into Common Core

implementation elicits civic competencies

To share practical examples of service-learning and Common Core

integration

Common Core Simplified

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s0rRk9sER0

On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being the lowest, how prepared do you feel to implement the CCSS in your content area?

Current State of the Common Core

What is the Common Core?

The Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what

students are expected to know in order to be considered college and career ready.

CCSS – National Picture

46 states + DC have adopted the standards • *Note: MN adopted ELA only

Non-adopting states: TX, VA, NE, AK*Note: Anchorage, AK - only district to independently adopt standards

Not Adopted

Adopted

Adopted ELA only

Assessment Consortia Participation

SMARTER Balanced – 21 governing (incl. DC)/3 participatory states

PARCC – 20 governing (incl. CO)/2 participatory states

*Utah and Alabama are the only CCSS states that are not a member of either consortia.

*Two states are a member of both consortia

CCSS Implementation Timeline

• Adopt aligned instructional materials

• Field test assessment items

• Test capabilities of technological infrastructure within schools

• Ongoing professional development for administrators and educators

2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015

• Align instructional materials

• Professional development for administrators and educators

• Pilot assessment items from consortia

• Ensure schools are technologically prepared for assessments

• Create reporting systems

Full implementation of standards and

assessment!

Support for CCSS

Commonly cited reasons for adopting the Common Core:

• Consistency across states • Increased rigor• A common measure for college readiness• Informed by top-performing countries

Commonly cited reasons for not adopting the Common Core:

• Perceived as federal overreach• Perceived loss of local control• State standards are superior• Costs

Criticism of CCSS

Are you currently using the CCSS in your

teaching/curriculum planning?

NO

YES

Case Study

Intent:

To examine whether and how high-quality service-learning fits into schools’ and districts’ early plans to implement the Common Core.

www.ecs.org

Case Study

Objectives:

To learn how Common Core implementation is affecting established S-L practices in four sites around the country.

To identify challenges/anticipated challenges in blending S-L and Common Core implementation.

To describe best practices and models four sites are using/plan to use to align high-quality S-L and Common Core.

Case Study

Sites:

1. Percy L. Julian High School, Chicago, IL2. Grant’s Lick Elementary School,

Alexandria, KY3. North Middle School, Colorado Springs,

CO4. Montpelier Public Schools, Montpelier, VT

Case Study

Takeaways:

Professional Development Identify strong SL practitioners & invest in PD in S-L/Common Core

implementation Provide opportunities for teachers to hear success stories of

teachers doing this well

S-L Part of School Culture It appears that if S-L is institutionalized, Common core will not detract

from S-L practice

Communication and Leadership Be cognizant that teachers are stretched already—demonstrate support

Develop concise strategic plan for implementation

Did You Know…

More Americans can name a judge on American Idol than can name

all three branches of government?

Civic Education

Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor :

“Knowledge of our system of government is not handed down through a gene pool. It must be

learned by each new generation.”

Civic Education

A growing body of research shows that civic education not only increases citizen knowledge and engagement, but also:

• Expands civic equality• Improves 21st century skills • May reduce the dropout rate and

improve the school climate

Call to Reinvigorate

the Civic Mission of Schools

The Old Civics: Textbook-based classroom lectures centered on civic knowledge

The New Civics: In addition to civic knowledge, students also learn the skills and dispositions necessary to engage civically.

Active civic learning, as opposed to flat civic learning, is essential to meetings the civic purposed of public education

The New Civics

ECS’s The Progress of Education Reform, April 2013 Issue:

The New Civics: Civic Learning is Not Flat Learning

How has civic education evolved in the past 25 years? How does recent research support implementation of the “new

civics”? How can policy better support educators’ adoption of the “new

civics”?

http://www.ecs.org/clearinghouse/01/06/96/10696.pdf

Civic Competencies

Content

Skills

Dispositions

Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools

Civic Competencies

Civic Knowledge The fundamental understanding of the structure of

government and the processes by which government passes laws and makes policy

Civic Skills The abilities necessary to participate as active and

responsible citizens in a democracy

Civic Dispositions The characteristics and outlooks supportive of

responsible political engagement and active civic participation

Branches of government, constitution

Social movements and struggles

Content

Intellectual Critical

thinking Active

listening Perspective Expression

Skills

Participatory Public

speaking Consensus

building Petitioning Protesting

Values/Behaviors

Tolerance/respect Rejection of

violence Sense of belonging Self-efficacy Concern for others

Dispositions

Six Proven Practices for Effective Civic Learning

The Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools

http://www.civicmissionofschools.org/

The Guardian of Democracy, 2011Provides a comprehensive look at the role civic learning

plays in maintaining our democracy, examines the major problems confronting civic learning, shows six proven practices in effective civic learning, and provides recommendations for policymakers, educators, and all citizens.

http://civicmission.s3.amazonaws.com/118/f0/5/171/1/Guardian-of-Democracy-report.pdf

Six Proven Practices for Effective Civic Learning

1. Classroom instruction2. Discussion of current events

and controversial issues3. Service-learning4. Extracurricular activities5. School governance6. Simulations of democratic

processes

Proven Practice #3

Design and implement programs that provide students with the

opportunity to apply what they learn through performing community

service that is linked to the formal curriculum and classroom

instruction.

Guardian of Democracy: The Civic Mission of Schools, 2011

MeaningfulService

Duration &Intensity

ProgressMonitoring

Link toCurriculum

High-Quality Service-Learning

NYLC, 2008

High-Quality Service-Learning

YouthVoice

Partnerships

Reflection Diversity

NYLC, 2008

Did You Know…

Students who receive effective civic learning are:

More confident in their ability to speak publically and communicate with their elected representatives.

CommonCore

CivicOutcomes

Service-Learning

Standard Service-Learning Project Civic Competencies

Grade 7 – Math

Solve real-life and mathematical

problems involving angle measure, area,

surface area, and volume

Students design and help to build a wheelchair accessible ramp where none exists

• Talk with wheelchair-bound individuals about the challenges they face in navigating the area

• Share stories with community planners, neighbors, business owners

• Research cost of materials and labor, and propose building plan, including timeline

• Present plan to city council, community planners, school board, mayor, etc.

• Complete the project

• Celebrate with community, invite local media, create a video that tells the story for others

• Desire for community involvement

• Concern for rights and welfare of others

• Tolerance/respect

• Personal efficacy

• Sense of belonging to a group

Standard Service-Learning Project Civic Competencies

Grade 11-12Speaking/Listening

Comprehension and Collaboration

Respond thoughtfully to diverse perspectives

Synthesize comments, claims, and evidence made on all sides of an issue

Resolve contradictions when possible

Determine what additional information/research is required to deepen the investigation or complete the task.

Students investigate hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and its impacts

on the environment

• Research what fracking is, who and what is affected

• Gather information from local residents, oil and gas companies, landowners—survey/poll/interview

• Host/facilitate public conversation about fracking

• Compile and present findings to county board, city council, EPA, etc.

• Create PowerPoint presentation, video production,

informational brochure, skit

• Critical thinking

• Perspective taking

• Interpreting

• Organizing, managing, participating in groups

• Engaging in dialogue with those who hold different opinions

• Appreciation of difference

What would help you to effectively implement the CCSS in your classroom?

What Have We Learned?

S-L’s curricular connections makes it an ideal strategy for implementing the CCSS

-----------------------------------CCSS + Quality S-L Civic Competencies

-----------------------------------ECS – Case Study coming soon

What questions do you have about…

Service-learning implementation?

Common Core implementation?

Effectively linking the two?

8 Standards for Quality S-L Practice

Common Core State Standards

The New Civics, ECS Progress of Ed Reform

www.corestandards.org

Resources

National Center for Learning and Citizenship at the

Education Commission of the States

www.ecs.org/nclclguilfoile@ecs.orgmryan@ecs.org