Implementation of the Idaho Core

1. Implementation of the Idaho Core http://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/common/

2. What We Have Done The State Department of Education has been working since 2011 to familiarize teachers and school administrators with the new standards through professional development and training.

3. What We Have Done • Establishing a baseline: • In 2010, Idaho performed a cross walk between Idaho’s current standards and the new Idaho Core Standards. • The results of that gap analysis have been posted to Department website.

4. What We Have Done

5. What We Have Done

6. What We Have Done

7. What We Have Done • Professional Development and Training: • As of February 1, 2013, the Department has trained over 2,535 educators representing nearly every school district in the state on the Idaho Core. • While we have done a considerable amount of training, we have a lot more to do. • Idaho has approximately 17,000 educators.

8. What We Have Done • Professional Development and Training: • Leveraging other programs and initiatives to support the Idaho Core: • The Idaho Math Initiative • Summer Institutes • iSTEM conferences • Coordinated School Health Workshops • SchoolNet and Discovery Education

9. What We Have Done • Professional Development and Training: • Fall 2011: • We provided initial professional development to leadership teams to: • Explain the new standards, • Demonstrate how they align with previous standards, • Demonstrate how districts can begin designing local professional development opportunities.

10. What We Have Done • Professional Development and Training: • 2012-2013: • The SDE provided more specific professional development workshops for teacher leaders in Math and in English language arts. • The goal: give them tools and strategies to re-create trainings within their own schools and districts.

11. What We Have Done • Lesson Plans and Curricular Materials Development: • Creation of 250 exemplar lesson plans aligned to the Idaho Core Standards • 53,000 assessment items aligned to the Idaho Core available through Schoolnet • Online Idaho Core Toolkits created with Idaho Core professional development resources.

12. What We Have Done • Partnerships: • We have worked with the Colleges of Education to infuse the Idaho Core in to Teacher Preparation Programs. • We have partnered with the Boise State and Inland Northwest Writing Projects to offer professional development in ELA.

13. Next Steps

14. Next Steps State Resources • Funding approved in FY2014 Public Schools Budget: • $3.7 million for professional development • Of the $21 million distributed for differential pay, up to 40% ($8.4 million) can be used to buy time

15. Next Steps Idaho’s Plan for $3.7 Million • The state has developed a draft plan. • We want your feedback. • The Department will host focus groups with teachers and administrators.

16. Next Steps Professional Development and Training: • ELA/Literacy: • Expand the highly successful partnerships with Northwest Inland and BSU Writing Projects, • Expand into eastern Idaho via development of program at ISU, • Continue creation and posting of modules for district replication of this PD.

17. Next Steps Professional Development and Training: • Mathematics: • Direct Professional Development working with teachers to help them see structure in the standards: • Progressions • Ties • Streams • Pinnacle standards

18. Next Steps Lesson Plans and Curricular Materials Development: • Training for district teams in Idaho Core Curriculum Mapping, • Training teachers on building Instructional Units that are used to teach the Idaho Core, • Continue our work with master teachers to expand the bank of lesson plans in Schoolnet aligned to Idaho Core Standards.

19. Next Steps Building Capacity and Regional Support: • 6 Regional trainer/consultants for English Language Arts/Literacy (2-year positions). • 6 Regional trainer/consultants for Mathematics (2-year positions).

20. Next Steps Partnerships: • Colleges of Education: continue our work to ensure graduates are properly prepared to teach to the Idaho Core. • IHEs: offer Higher Education Innovation Grants to colleges and universities to assist in professional development, training or support directly to school districts. • Other Partnerships: • Example: Idaho Leads Project

21. Next Steps Communications • Communications is key now and in the future. • As states begin to implement the standards, we face pushback.

22. Next Steps Pushback • Eight states have faced legislation to repeal their standards. Examples: Indiana, Alabama, Missouri, Georgia. • Pushback in Idaho is just beginning, but growing.

23. Next Steps Be Knowledgeable Be Prepared Be Proactive

24. Next Steps Key messages: • Who: The States. This was a state-led effort. No federal involvement. • What: Higher Standards. These are standards, not curriculum. These are standards in 2 subject areas, not every subject area.

25. Next Steps Key messages: • When: 2011. The standards were develop in 2009 and 2010. Idaho adopted them in 2011. • Where: In Public. These standards were reviewed and adopted in public meetings of the State Board of Education and Idaho Legislature.

26. Next Steps Key messages: • Why: To improve student achievement. Of the students who go on to postsecondary education, nearly half need remediation. We have to ensure students are better prepared when they graduate. • How: The same process. Idaho used the same process it always uses to review and adopt standards.

27. Next Steps Common Myths/Facts • Myth: Idaho was required to adopt these standards in order to receive federal funding (stimulus, Race to the Top, ESEA Waiver, etc.) • Fact: Idaho has not accepted any federal funding to implement these standards. None of these applications specifically reference the “Common Core State Standards.”

28. Next Steps Common Myths/Facts • Myth: These new standards will de-emphasize classic literature, like Huckleberry Finn, and historical texts, like the Gettysburg Address. • Fact: The new standards actually put a greater emphasis on classic literature as well as other types of texts. They still require the classics to be taught in English class, but also require literacy standards in other classrooms, such as history and science.

29. Next Steps Communications and Publications: • We are here to help you! • Parent Toolkit • Sample presentation for community nights • Sample letter to parents • FAQs and Myths/Facts • Talking Points for administrators, teachers • Sample flier • Let us know what other communication resources you might need.