ASCD Common Core Implementation Resources for Arkansas

On October 11, 2011, more than 550 educators attended the Arkansas Common Core State Standards Summit  to gain the knowledge and resources necessary to successfully implement  the Common Core State Standards.

This daylong comprehensive and collaborative work session engaged district and community teams in

• Collaborating with colleagues to assess state and local needs.
• Sharing successful implementation strategies and practices from national and Arkansas colleagues.
• Understanding the importance of a whole child approach to education in setting the foundation for success from kindergarten through college and career choices.
• Beginning the creation of an effective communication plan to bring awareness of the Common Core State Standards to community stakeholders.

Arkansas Common Core State Standards Summit Presentations

Arkansas ASCD 2011–12 Updates (PDF)

Mary Gunter, AASCD, Center for Leadership and Learning

Gunter opened the summit with enthusiasm and promise for a beneficial day ahead. See the 2011–12 Arkansas ASCD events.

Arkansas Common Core State Standards Summit: Implementation Survey Results (PDF)

Efrain Mercado Jr., Common Core State Standards, ASCD

Arkansas Common Core State Standards Summit attendees filled out an implementation survey as a part of their registration for the event. In this presentation, Mercado explained the results of the survey, revealing to participants their level of comfort and knowledge with the new standards.  ASCD plans to use this information to provide support for Arkansas educators and to inform coming professional development and resources from ASCD.

CCSSO: The Common Core State Standards—National Perspective and Impact on Reauthorization (PDF)

Carrie Heath Phillips, Council of Chief State School Officers

Phillips shared information about the Common Core State Standards, including the history of the initiative, the reasons for the standards' development, implementation tools and resources, and the standards’ effect on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Phillips works for the Council of Chief State School Officers, one of the leading organizations that, partnering with the National Governors’ Association, spearheaded the Common Core State Standards Initiative.

The Common Core State Standards: Arkansas Strategic Plan (PDF)

Laura Bednar, Assistant Commissioner, Arkansas Department of Education

Bednar took Arkansas educators through the Arkansas Strategic Action Areas for the implementation of the Common Core State Standards: communication, curriculum, assessment, instructional leadership, professional development, policy, and aligned systems. Whether you are an educator in Arkansas or not, the Arkansas Department of Education's plans for rolling out the Common Core State Standards will be beneficial to your own implementation.

The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PDF)

Doug Sovde, Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career (PARCC)

Sovde took attendeees through the timeline, design, goals, and purpose of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers. This PowerPoint presentation describes the PARCC assessment with insight from the creators.

Lessons from the Field: Making the Transition to Computer-Based Testing (PDF)

Gayle Potter, Arkansas Department of Education

Potter’s presentation overviewed the specifics about lessons from states making the transition to technology-based assessments, emerging practices to support the upcoming assessments, PARCC’s technology and readiness audit tool, PARCC technology specifications, resources some states are already using, and the challenges ahead.

Instructional Implications of the Common Core State Standards (PDF)

Sandra Alberti, Student Achievement Partners

In this presentation, Alberti took viewers through the necessary instructional shifts to teach the Common Core State Standards. This must-see presentation comes from Student Achievement Partners, a nonprofit organization devoted to accelerating student achievement by driving effective and innovative implementation of the common core.