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IRA Webinar: Core Standards and State Literacy Teams. July 14, 2010. 2 Key issues for states. Core Standards Most states will need to redefine their standards Lots of pressure – Federal money tied to adoption State Literacy Teams Age 0 to grade 12 program Federal Funds/Plans.
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IRA Webinar: Core Standards and State Literacy Teams July 14, 2010
2 Key issues for states • Core Standards • Most states will need to redefine their standards • Lots of pressure – Federal money tied to adoption • State Literacy Teams • Age 0 to grade 12 program • Federal Funds/Plans
Core Standards • Issued – still lots of issues • State Education Agencies doing “Gap Analysis” • Two Assessment teams working on assessment processes – using $300 million federal funds • 35 states expected to sign on by August 1st
What are national groups doing? • NEA & AFT are working with six schools to figure out what is needed to implement • Teacher Ed group (AACTE) working on performance criteria for pre-service • NCTE/NCTM working on a secondary level program • IRA working on publication with a team of state leaders and nationally recognized scholars
What should IRA state councils do? • Look for opportunities • States will be defining terms • States will be planning professional development • States will be using much of the old standards • States will need to be more specific concerning high need students (ELL & Handicapped)
Continued • Find committees at State Ed Agency who are working on: • The gap analysis? • Defining how are professional development programs going to be developed • What is important to be stressed? • Do you want them as part of your state council meetings? • State council webinars?
Issues to keep in mind • Resources are limited • Standards are baselines not ceilings • Much work needs to be done on definitions • Decisions on what to emphasize in PD • Assessment issues – how and what • Not supposed to be reading lists
State Literacy Teams • Part of the 2010 Appropriations Bill signed into law in December 2009 • $10 million for State Literacy Teams • $230 million for 8 – 12 states to have projects • What the state literacy teams do is spelled out in LEARN Act & will be the subject of guidance
What should you do? • Read the Legislation – it is short and will be on the IRA website this evening under advocacy • Talk with your state education agency’s literacy or reading person • Develop a set of recommendations • Remember the core standards issues • Offer to meet with SEA members who are deciding who will be on the state team
Key points • Specific work is being done in your SEA on these two items • Right now more on Core Standards • Soon on State Literacy Teams • Talk with them • Think about what issues your teachers will have • Need information • Need to know what is flexible and what isn’t • Need statements from the Council
You’re not alone • IRA can and will • Help you with analysis • Letters • Testimony • Ideas and alternatives • Access to nationally known names • AND, we can keep you up to date nationally • Contact info: • Rich Long, • rlong@reading.org or 202-624-8800