Forty-one states have adopted the Common Core State Standards. Now, implementing the Standards—to realize their purpose of increasing the college and career readiness of our high school graduates—takes on primary importance. This transition to implementation introduces a number of challenging questions: What is the baseline of student performance on the Common Core State Standards, and what reasonable expectations should we hold for students moving forward? What does student college and career readiness look like today through the lens of the Standards?
ACT is pleased to provide this first look at student performance relative to the Common Core State Standards and college and career readiness. The report establishes a baseline of performance on the Standards by using a sample comprising a quarter-million typical high school students, and then discusses how states, districts, and schools can support the implementation of the Common Core State Standards going forward.
The period between Common Core adoption and Common Core implementation offers an important opportunity to evaluate and reframe education policy and practice at all levels. ACT believes this report provides information that stakeholders can use to understand the current state of college and career readiness of students and to begin implementing programs and policies that best support the Common Core.
Now is the time to provide students with more effective opportunities to prepare for education and workplace success.
Common Core's Curriculum Maps in English Language Arts translate the new Common Core State Standards for Kindergarten through 12th grade into unit maps that teachers can use to plan their year, craft their own more detailed curriculum, and create lesson plans. They were were written by public school teachers for public school teachers and are available free of charge to anyone who would like to use them. The maps are flexible and adaptable, yet they address every standard in the CCSS. Any teacher, school, or district that chooses to follow the Common Core maps can be confident that they are adhering to the standards. The maps are undergoing revision based on suggestions received during a month-long public comment period conducted in the Fall of 2010. A 2011 edition of the maps will be released soon.
A Collection of Educational Policy Improvement Center's resources on College Readiness
There is quite a bit of mythology about the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) that must be addressed. The general public often indicates that CCSS were mandated by President Obama and Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan.