Phone Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
1-800-933-ASCD (2723)
Address 1703 North Beauregard St. Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
Complete Customer Service Details
February 1, 2013
As the clock ticks closer to the 2014–15 deadline for the Common Core assessments from PARCC and SBAC, the scramble for information and guidance is becoming more apparent. In part one of this article, we highlighted many of the updates from PARCC and SBAC that have been released to date. In part two, we will highlight a report (PDF) released by the National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing (CRESST).
In the report, CRESST summarizes its current findings regarding PARCC and SBAC’s assessment development efforts, indicating that they are on track to support deeper learning, complex thinking, communication, and problem solving. However, the report also notes the technical, fiscal, and political challenges that the two consortia still face in implementing their assessments.
Educators should pay attention to three major takeaways from this report:
Overall, the PARCC and SBAC assessments will have many more questions at the DOK3 and DOK4 levels, and the majority of questions on current state assessments are at the DOK1 and DOK2 levels.
Consider these major takeaways as you continue to understand and plan for these coming assessments. Another major point that educators need to be aware of is that although using a cross-state collaborative to develop large-scale assessments presents many potential pitfalls, the potential benefits in common comparisons, cost savings, and increased quality tend to outweigh any downsides. The key for both consortia will be to adhere to their stated goals and design elements even when the political, financial, and logistical pressures continue to rise on the way to 2014–15. Please be sure to follow ASCD as we continue to share relevant information on the happenings of the assessment consortia to educators across the nation.
Districts in California Collaborate to Implement the Common Core Standards
Eight districts in California (including Los Angeles Unified School District) have joined forces to implement the Common Core State Standards and design new teacher evaluations based in part on student performance. These districts are also currently seeking their own No Child Left Behind waiver from the U.S. Department of Education.
Illinois Raises the Bar on Achievement to Prepare for Common Core Standards
The Illinois State Board of Education voted to raise the cut score on their state assessment, the Illinois Standards Achievement Test, to be comparable to the demands of college and career readiness that will be tested with the PARCC assesments.This shift was recommended by State Superintendent Chris Koch and will prepare Illinois students, schools, and parents for the rigor of the PARCC assessments that will come to the state in 2014–15.
Districts Pilot New Common Core Unit for English Language Learners
Three districts are piloting a new five-lesson unit for English language learners that is aligned to the Common Core State Standards. The unit, titled Persuasion Across Time and Space, uses historical texts such as Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, and Robert F. Kennedy's "On the Death of Martin Luther King" speech.
Report Outlines the Current State of Common Core Implementation in Urban Districts
The Council of the Great City Schools released their report (PDF) on the current status of Common Core implementation in the nation’s largest school districts. The report says that over half of their member districts have already begun implementation and that these districts have made adjustments to many areas, such as professional development, curriculum, and communications to the public.
Practitioners, we are looking for short essays—no more than 1,000 words—on the topic of Common Core implementation; specifically, on how you are using the recommendations from our report Fulfilling the Promise of the Common Core State Standards: Moving from Adoption to Implementation to Sustainability for upcoming editions of Core Connection. E-mail efrain.mercado@ascd.org if you have any questions, and be sure to send us your submission by February 15, 2013.
Upcoming Common Core Webinar from ASCD
Implementing the Common Core: Understand and Plan for the Coming Common Assessments
The assessments being developed by PARCC and SBAC have been on the minds of many educators since the two consortia were announced in fall 2010. Since then, there have been a lot of updates; changes; and to a certain extent, confusion. Recommendation #7 from ASCD’s report Fulfilling the Promise of the Common Core State Standards: Moving from Adoption to Implementation to Sustainability, states that educators need to understand and plan for the coming Common Core assessments.
Join ASCD staff member Efrain Mercado as he provides an overview of Recommendation #7 and the assessments for the Common Core State Standards. Audience members will have their questions answered live during the session.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013, at 3:00 p.m. eastern time
"Teaching is about people, not paper, [and] children, not numbers."
—Rebecca Mieliwocki, National Teacher of the Year, at ASCD's Legislative Conference, January 28, 2013
Sign up to receive the Core Connection e-newsletter.
ASCD's Common Core State Standards work is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Subscribe to ASCD Express, our free email newsletter, to have practical, actionable strategies and information delivered to your email inbox twice a month.
ASCD respects intellectual property rights and adheres to the laws governing them. Learn more about our permissions policy and submit your request online.