Comm
unicatin
g: Ala
bama
Colle
ge an
d Car
eer R
eady
Standar
ds
Alabam
a Sch
ool C
omm
unicato
rs A
ssoc
iatio
n
Jessica Hammonds, Executive Director
“It’s time that we as education communicators
take back the narrative about what is happening inside Alabama’s classrooms and
help separate and lift – up fact over fiction.” –
Team GRIT
What Is alabama grit – graduate ready. Impact tomorrow?
http://www.alabamagrit.org
What is alabama gritGraduate Ready. Impact Tomorrow.:
Alabama GRIT is a team of Alabama parents, educators, business leaders, military personnel, and other civic leaders who work together to ensure all of Alabama’s children have an opportunity to graduate from any of Alabama’s schools prepared for REAL LIFE– whether they are beginning college or a career.
Who are the founding members of Alabama GRIT?
A+ Education PartnershipAlabama Council of Teachers of Mathematics School Superintendents
of AlabamaAlabama ASCD VOICES for Alabama’s ChildrenAlabama Association of School Boards Montgomery Education
FoundationAlabama Mathematics, Science, Technology Education Coalition
(AMSTEC)Alabama National Board Certified Teachers NetworkAlabama PTAAlabama State Department of Education Mobile Area Education
FoundationBirmingham Business Alliance Military Child Education CoalitionBlack Belt Education Coalition Huntsville Council of PTAsBusiness Council of AlabamaCouncil for Leaders in Alabama SchoolsGreater Birmingham Math InitiativeHuntsville Area Schools FoundationHuntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce
What does alabama grit do?
WE ADVOCATE for higher academic standards.
WE PROMOTE policies and efforts that build on the gains our students are making.
WE FOSTER honest community conversations about what we want Alabama students to achieve.
LIFTING UP REAL VOICES we are a window into what is really taking place
inside Alabama’s classrooms
What we have learned about college and career ready standards/Common core in
alabama?
• Knowing some history• Highlights from polling• Highlights from focus groups
college and career ready standards-common core in Alabama
The Common Core State Standards is a states-based effort to raise academic expectations and classroom achievement nationwide.
In Alabama, we created our own standards based on the Common Core State Standards, called the Alabama College and Career Ready Standards.
college and career ready standards-common core in Alabama
Where did the Common Core come from?
The Common Core State Standards were developed by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers. Alabama’s leaders participate in both organizations.
Highlights from polling & focus groups that can help us develop messaging
1.) Most people have never heard of Common Core/College and Career Ready Standards.
2.) Most people (both Republican and Democrats) support the idea behind Common Core-less rote memorization and teaching to a test, and more reliance on real learning for real life.
3.) The mention of “Washington” or “Obama” is enough to cause the needle to move significantly.
Highlights from polling & focus groups that can help us develop messaging
People want to hear from TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS and LOCAL BUSINESS LEADERS
Now…what do we do with the information we have as communicators?
• We need to tell “our story” with proactive messaging – Real Learning for Real Life
• Communicate honestly• Engage our community• Focus our work on lifting-up real stories
of student and teaching achievement; crediting College and Career Ready Standards – Common Core – for success.
What is alabama Grit going to do?
Fill the void of information about College and Career Ready Standards – Common
Core.
Op-EdsLetters to the EditorBlogsNewslettersSocial Media• Provide fact-based information about CCSS on Facebook
and Twitter using the hashtag, #reallearning• Post stories of student achievement • Post stories of teachers going above and beyond• Share news stories relevant to the work the coalition is
doingEventsRecruiting speakers/writers
How alabama grit can help you?
Provide resources: •Myths vs Facts•Fact sheets•Brochures•Stickers/Pins•Videos•Took kits (parents, teachers, businesses)•Suggested Messaging for different audiences•Pledge Forms for events•What is CCSS in Alabama cards•Templates•Suggested speakers for events/forums/conferences
Brochure
GOT GRIT? THEN sign the pledge
Other resources
http://get2core.org/learn
http://highercorestandards.org/
Where you can find alabama grit – Graduate Ready. Impact Tomorrow
Learn more on our website and sign the pledge: www.alabamagrit.orgTwitter: @AlabamaGRIT #reallearningFacebook: Facebook.com/alabamaGRITAddress: P.O. Box 804, Montgomery, Alabama 36101Email: [email protected] Phone: 334-430-5401