School Leaders and the Common Core: Preparing Students for College & Career Readiness An Overview

1. School Leaders and the Common Core: Preparing Students for College & Career Readiness An Overview Presenters: Natasha Vasavada, Executive Director, Research and Development, College Board Dick Flanary, Senior Director, Leadership Programs and Services, NASSP Mel Riddile, Associate Director for High School Services, NASSP

2. Webinar Series Key Messages • The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) requires a shift in focus from high school completion to college and career readiness for all students • The CCSS will radically change curricula, state assessments, school culture and professional development • Principals and school leaders must play a key role for effective implementation • This six part webinar series will give principals and school leaders the knowledge to be proactive and prepared 2

3. Presenters Richard Flanary Senior Director, Leadership Programs and Services NASSP Mel Riddile Associate Director for High School Services NASSP Natasha Vasavada Executive Director, Standards and Curriculum Alignment Services, Research and Development College Board 3

4. The College Board • Helped develop standards • Served on advisory committee guiding the initiative • Provided research on college readiness skills • Continues involvement to assist states and districts in implementation 4

5. NASSP • Participated in review and vetting of ELA and math standards • Is helping school leaders understand the magnitude of change the Common Core will introduce • Has a successful track record in Breaking Ranks school improvement • Holds an extensive history in principal skills assessment and development 5

6. Surveys What is your role/position in your school? A) Principal B) Assistant or Associate Principal C) Department Head D) Teacher E) Counselor F) Other How much do you know about the Common Core State Standards and how this will affect your school? A) I have a thorough understanding B) I have some understanding C) I know very little D) I don’t know anything 6

7. What is the Common Core? • A state-led effort to develop a common set of standards in English language arts and math that: • Align college and workplace expectations • Are rigorous and evidence-based • The CCSS have been adopted by 46 states • The CCSS will affect all public schools in adopted states • Implementation beginning now • New state assessments in 2014-15 • A parallel effort is underway to develop Next Generation Science Standards that will be released by December 2012 7

8. Common Core = Major Change and Mindset Shift We need to shift our focus from high school completion to college and career readiness for all students. • The Common Core State Standards: • Are for all students, not just students seeking accelerated learning. • Will impact all teachers, not just ELA and math teachers. • Is happening now. • School level leaders will need to play a central role in implementing the new standards and in cultivating this mindset shift.

9. Why Common Core State Standards?Issue #1: Inconsistent State Standards 9

10. Why Common Core State Standards?Issue #2: Low College Completion Rates • Remediation rates and costs are staggering • As much as 40% of all students entering 4-year colleges need remediation in one or more courses • As much as 63% in 2-year colleges • Degree attainment rates are disappointing • Fewer than 42% of adults aged 25-34 hold college degrees 10 Source: The College Completion Agenda 2010 Progress Report, The College Board

11. Why Common Core State Standards?Issue #3: More Students Need a More Rigorous Curriculum • Adelman et al. (2003) • 15% of students in the top quintile in academic rigor required remediation • 57% of students in the bottom quintile in academic rigor required remediation • Adelman (2006) • 83% of students whose highest math class was calculus graduated within 8 years • 40% of students whose highest math class was Algebra II graduated within 8 years

12. Benefits of Common Core State Standards 12

13. Features of the Common Core State Standards – English Language Arts • Balance between informational text and literature • Comprehending complex texts • Writing in response to texts • Conducting and reporting on research • Language and grammar skills • Speaking and listening • Cross-content literacy 13

14. Features of the Common Core State Standards – Math • Emphasis on mathematical practices • Attention to focus and coherence • Increased focus on algebra in middle grades • Problem solving and reasoning • Mathematical modeling • Standards for STEM readiness 14

15. Common Core: A Fast Timeline Implementation is NOW! 2014 - 2015 Participating States Administer New CCSS Assessments Dec. 2011 46 States Have Adopted CCSS

16. What comes next after adoption? 16

17. Understanding Current Alignment Alignment is one of the first steps for states and districts towards implementing the Common Core. 17

18. Changes in Curriculum and Instruction The Common Core will require significant curricular and instructional shifts that will impact all classrooms. 18

19. Professional Development To effectively implement and embrace the Common Core, rich professional development will be required. 19

20. Common Assessments Two state consortia are building assessment systems to measure the Common Core State Standards. The assessment systems will: • Provide a common measure of college and career readiness • Be computer-based and include innovative item types • Measure higher order skills and application of knowledge through multiple assessment formats • Include formative assessments and performance tasks • Provide timely data to educators and parents • Ensure comparable expectations regardless of where students live

21. Common Core Implementation Support for School Level Leaders The College Board and the National Association of Secondary School Principals have partnered together to provide Common Core resources specifically tailored for school leaders. • Six-part webinar series: • Common Core Overview • Curriculum and Instruction: English Language Arts Standards • Curriculum and Instruction: Math Standards • School Wide Instructional Practices • Leadership • Culture and Climate • Online community (www.edweb.net/ccss4leaders)

22. Questions and Comments Send questions and comments through the Q&A window located on the lower-right hand corner of your monitor.

23. Resources • NASSP and College Board Online Community and Resources: www.edweb.net/ccss4leaders • The Common Core State Standards Initiative: http://www.corestandards.org/ • SMARTER Balanced: http://www.k12.wa.us/smarter/ • PARCC: http://www.parcconline.org/ • K-12 Center at ETS Guide to the Assessment Consortia: http://www.k12center.org/publications/assessment_consortia.html

24. Upcoming Webinars • English Language Arts Standards - Feb. 1 at 4 p.m. EST • Math Standards - Feb. 15 at 4 p.m. EST • School Wide Instructional Practices - Feb. 29 at 4 p.m. EST • School Leadership Role - March 14 at 4 p.m. EST • Changing School Culture and Climate - March 28 at 4 p.m. EST