Framework for the Future Curriculum Council Report May 18, 2010

1. Framework for the Future Curriculum Council Report May 18, 2010

2. Framework for the Future • Elementary & Secondary Education Act (ESEA) • Common Core Standards • Standards Aligned System (SAS) • Keystone Exams • Voluntary Model Curriculum • Diagnostic Tool

3. Elementary & Secondary Education Act (ESEA) • President’s Proposed Blueprint • All students graduate from high school prepared for college and a career • 2014 NCLB deadline may go away • Will still test yearly • Encourages states to adopt common core standards • Title I: College and career ready students • Title II: Great teachers and great leaders

4. ESEA Blue Print • Permit states to increase subjects tested • Ask schools to report on broader range of factors, such as school climate—provide greater voice for teachers • No longer mandated to provide SES or school choice • States will be directed to develop a definition of “effective teaching” that relies on student outcomes and system to link student performance to teachers and school leaders.

5. Common Core Standards • National Governors Association Center for Best Practice • Council of Chief State School Officers • College and Career Readiness standards released in the fall • March 10 released completed standards for English/Language Arts and Mathematics • March 10th release includes College and Career Standards and specifies competencies students must have in each grade level.

6. CommonCore Standards • English and Language Arts • 62 pages • “Lay out a vision of what it means to be a literate person in the 21st century” • 300 pages of appendices offer: • examples of student work • examples of texts that illustrate complexity, quality and range appropriate to each grade level • Explains the research behind the standards

7. Common Core Standards • Mathematics • 71 pages • Try to avoid “mile-wide, inch deep” by: • Carving out key ideas • Emphasize conceptual understanding • Place premium on students being able to explain math problems and not just compute • 60 page appendix is to serve as a guide to designing high school courses www.corestandards.org

8. Standards Aligned System (SAS) • Student Achievement • Clear Standards • Fair Assessments • Curriculum Framework • Instruction • Materials and Resources • Interventions • www.pdesas.org

9. Keystone Exams • Classes of 2015 & 2016 must pass four Keystones to graduate • Class of 2017 and on must pass six Keystones • There will be a total of ten exams • Algebra, Biology, Literature, English Composition, Chemistry, Geometry, Algebra II, American History, Civics and Government, World History • Keystone graduation examinations or local assessment option

10. Keystone Exams • PDE targeting 2012-2013 for 11th grade PSSA elimination – need approval • AYP will be based on Keystone Exams • Algebra I • Literature • (Biology required testing but not part of AYP) • PDE still needs to determine the grade level to assess for AYP since many student will ‘bank exams’

11. Voluntary Model Curriculum • Part of SAS • VMC provides: • Unit plans • Lesson plans (3 for a unit?) • Learning progressions • Curriculum resources aligned to standards, anchors and curriculum framework • DRC is looking for feedback • Not complete at this time

12. Diagnostic Tool • Online tests designed to provide diagnostic information in order to guide instruction and remediation • 6-12 grade assessment (field test 3-12) • Math field test April 26-May 14, 2010 • Schedule: • Mathematics – Fall 2010 • Literature – Winter 2010 • Science – Winter 2010 • Composition – Fall 2011 • Social Studies - TBD

13. Updates Chinese Guest Teacher Assessment Committee Continual monitoring of Middle School Algebra Dual Enrollment Program UCFSD Cyber Program Middle School Honors Task Force Summer Program Singapore Math Parent Nights

14. Questions?