Implementing the Common Core Standards (ICCS) Issue 45 • January 14, 2014
Dear Colleagues,
Happy New Year! As part of the Common Core Webinar Series, CCSSO will host a webinar on Wednesday, January 15 at 1PM EST entitle "Adopting Digital Resources Aligned to the Common Core." The webinar will feature a presentation from Brian Bridges, Director of the California Learning Resource Network. He will discuss California's Digital Textbook Initiative which as resulted in digital Common Coroe aligned textbook adoption in the state. Please visit here to register for the webinar.
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) is hosting the webinar "Protecting Student Data Privacy: What Policymakers Need to Know" on Friday, January 17 at 3PM EST. As states work to implement new standards, assessments, and teacher evaluations, questions have arisen over the protection of student data privacy. During this webinar, experts will address these concerns and steps that state policymakers might take to ensure privacy and appropriate use of data. The webinar is open to everyone, please registertoday!
Thank you, The CCSSO Common Core Implementation Team
Featured Articles:
Chamber President Calls for Support of Common Core in 2014
The president of the US Chamber of Commerce announced his support for Common Core State Standards in his annual 'State of American Business' address outlining the Chamber's priorities for the coming year. "The severe educational and skills gap we face is a challenge that should unite us a nation and city," Donohue said. "States should adopt and implement the Common Core educational standards." Organizations such as the Business Roundtable and the Chamber have urged private-sector leaders to stand behind the Common Core, which those two groups have argued are critical to preparing students for high-skills jobs, and important to steeling the US economy against foreign competition.
National PTA: Great Education Needs High Standards and Involved Families
National PTA President Otha Thornton penned an op-ed discussing the links between families, schools, and communities with academic standards. Together families and schools must raise the bar and remain committed to ensuring all students graduate prepared to succeed globally. The Common Core State Standards and effective partnerships between schools and families are important steps that Thornton notes in her piece.
Communicating the Common Core State Standards - A Resource for Superintendents, School Board Members, and Public Relations Executives
The Council of the Great City Schools produced a report for superintendents, school board members, and public relations executives about communicating the Common Core State Standards. The results from a recent Gallup poll suggested the need for thoughtful communication about new Common Core State Standards.
Illustrative Mathematics Project: Quality Resource to Implement the Mathematics Common Core Standards
One of the greatest challenges right now in the implementation of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics is determining the quality of resources, materials, and professional learning that claim to be aligned to the standards. Illistrative Mathematics is a website and growing community focused on illustrating the standards with high quality tasks reviewed by a math expert as well as a classroom expert. Illustrative Mathematics is building a community of expertise that writes and reviews tasks, discusses tasks and standards, and works together to better understand strong mathematics instruction.
16 Myths About the Common Core State Standards Set Straight.
And for your delight, please enjoy this Buzzfeed article on Common Core State Standards.