A significant and historic opportunity for states to collectively develop and adopt a core set of academic standards in Mathematics and English/Language Arts

What is the CCSS Initiative?

These Common Core Standards will be a critical first step to bring about real and meaningful transformation of our education system to benefit all students

The Common Core Standards help define the knowledge and skills all students need to succeed in college and careers

Expectations will be consistent for all students

Why is this initiative important?

Provides consistency across states Allows for equal access Prepares students to compete globally Allows for more focused professional

development Allows for the development of a common

assessment Provides the opportunity to compare and

evaluate policies that affect student achievement across states

What will the CCSS Accomplish?

Students leave high school prepared for postsecondary success in college or a career through increased student learning and improved teaching

CCSS’s Role

Define knowledge and skills students should have within

K-12 education careers so that they will graduate high school able to succeed in careers and college.

The English language arts and mathematics standards:◦ Align with college and work expectations;◦ Are clear, understandable, consistent;◦ Include rigorous content and application of knowledge;◦ Build on strengths and lessons of current state standards; and◦ Prepare all students for success in global economy and society.

They do not:◦ Dictate how teachers teach◦ Dictate what instructional / curricular materials should be used

CCSS

MATHEMATICS

Focus, coherence and clarity: emphasis on key topics at each

grade level and coherent progression across grades

Procedural fluency and understanding of concepts and

skills

Promote rigor through mathematical proficiencies that

foster reasoning and understanding across discipline

High school standards organized by conceptual categories

Key Advances of the Common Core

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS/LITERACY

Balance of literature and informational texts; focus on text

complexity

Emphasis on argument, informative/ explanatory writing,

and research

Speaking and listening skills

Literacy standards for history, science and technical subjects

ANCHORED IN COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS

7

To succeed in 21st century college and careers, students need to be able to:1. Solve problems

2. Manage oneself

3. Adapt to change

4. Analyze / conceptualize

5. Reflect on / improve performance

6. Communicate

7. Work in teams

8. Create / innovate / critique

9. Engage in learning throughout life

Adopted by the State Board on July 7, 2010 Support the State Board’s 5-Year Plan Support Connecticut’s Secondary School

Reform The Core is internationally benchmarked The Core prepare all students to succeed in

a global economy

Connecticut and the CCSS

External System Review◦ Examine the current status of our district to

assess our preparation to roll out the Common Core State Standards (CCSS)

◦ Curriculum, instruction and assessment◦ Leadership – school-based and central office◦ Professional development◦ School visits – classroom observations and

interviews

Norwalk Community Corporate Partnership

Internal and External Stakeholders

Norwalk Acts - October 19, 3:00 – 4:15 at Nathan Hale MS

Focus Groups

Review background documents Collect data o-site from various

stakeholders and focus groups Analyze data Prepare a report Involve district stakeholders in a follow-up

feedback and engagement session Set a plan to support the rollout of the CCSS

Process for the Visit

We need to work together for the future of all of Norwalk's students!!!