DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
The Townsend Building
401 Federal Street Suite 2
Dover, Delaware 19901-3639
DOE WEBSITE: http://www.doe.k12.de.us
Lillian M. Lowery, Ed.D.
Secretary of Education
Voice: (302) 735-4000
FAX: (302) 739-4654
Introducing the Delaware Prioritized Curriculum and Common Core State Standards
In English Language Arts and Mathematics
An Orientation Plan for Teachers, Specialists, and Administrators
July-September 2010
REVISED JUNE 28, 2010
Introduction
Delaware is a participating member in the 48-state consortium focused on development and
adoption of rigorous, K-12 Common Core Standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics.
These standards were released in final form on June 2, 2010. The Delaware State Board of
Education will consider these standards for adoption in August 2010. This Orientation Plan is
intended to familiarize teachers, specialists, and administrators to the Common Core State
Standards, as well as provide an overview to the Delaware Prioritized Curriculum in the
assessed content areas (English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies).
WHAT?
Plan Overview

Participants will receive an overview to the scope, purpose and implementation plan for
proposed Delaware Prioritized Curriculum and the Common Core State Standards in ELA and
Math following their adoption by the State Board of Education.

Participants will learn about where to access the adopted Delaware Prioritized Curriculum and
the Common Core State Standards on the DOE website.

Participants will become familiar with the general format of the Delaware Prioritized Curriculum
and the Common Core State standards.

Participants will complete a brief comparison and analysis of one strand from the Delaware
Prioritized Curriculum and the Common Core State Standards.

Participants will learn more about the Common Core Comparison that was completed to create
a crosswalk between the existing Delaware Prioritized Curriculum and the Common Core State
Standards.

Participants will become familiar with the impact of the Delaware Prioritized Curriculum and the
Common Core State Standards on the new DCAS state assessment in ELA and Math.
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
Participants will explore next steps related to the Delaware Prioritized Curriculum and the
Common Core State Standards for planning for the upcoming year’s teaching and learning.
WHY?
This Plan and RTTT Scope of Work Area #1 Standards & Assessments
District and Charter School participation in this Standards Orientation Plan for teachers,
specialists and administrators is designed to meet two of the four bulleted items in Scope of
Work Area #1:
 Participate in review of the Delaware Prioritized Curriculum and the Common
Core State Standards
 Ensure teachers and leaders participate in State’s standards-related professional
development
 Ensure curriculum aligns with standards, is implemented with fidelity, is having
expected impact on student achievement, and is modified if ineffective (not
included in this proposal)
 Ensure all students participate in statewide formative and summative
assessments and assessments of college readiness (not included in this proposal)
Component 1 and 2 Design Plan
The DOE Training Plan to acquaint teachers, specialists and administrators with the Delaware
Prioritized Curriculum and Common Core State Standards comprised of two components:
Component #1: Online Module (2 hours total)
NOTE: These online modules will be available for use beginning July 16, 2010. Districts and
charters will receive email notifications with links to directions. The online modules can be
used during the summer recess by teachers, or can be used by teacher groups as the initial twohour component of this Standards training on one of the August district professional
development days.
Component #2: Half-day content area application session(s)
(3 hours total for Secondary teachers; 6 hours total for Elementary teachers)
After teachers, specialists, and administrators have completed the four online modules in
Component #1, participants are ready to take part in Component 2 - a deeper discussion of the
standards within each assessed content area. Secondary teachers and specialists will
participate in a half-day session in their primary content area. Elementary teachers will be
provided with a full-day equivalent of component #2, with coverage of all four assessed areas
(English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies).
Specific training objectives for Component #2:
 Participants will explore the impact of the Delaware Prioritized Curriculum and
the Common Core State Standards on teaching and learning.
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
Participants will work through guided activities using their own district/charter
school’s curricula to examine any possible changes in the level of student
expectations. Special attention on the Common Core State Standards in English
Language Arts and Mathematics will be featured.

Participants will review and discuss the learning expectations in their grade level
and the adjacent grades or courses to ensure vertical articulation.
REVISED TIMEFRAME FOR COMPLETION OF TRAINING Districts and charter school
leaders will be responsible for scheduling Component #2 teacher/specialist sessions before
the end of the first semester (on or before January 31, 2011).
Role of Train the Trainer sessions with lead teachers and content specialists
The DOE Curriculum Workgroup Director and content area coordinators, are collaborating with
consultants from the Southern Delaware Professional Development Center, Delaware Center
for Teacher Education and local trainers familiar with both the Delaware Prioritized Curriculum
and Common Core State Standards, to develop full-day training during the summer recess to
lead teachers and/or other curriculum specialists nominated by each district and charter school.
Participants will be trained to lead the structured activities for Component #2 and will receive a
toolkit of materials needed to lead the trainings in their district and schools. District Curriculum
Directors and Charter School leaders are asked to designate staff members in Mathematics,
English Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies who will serve as facilitators, and will register
to complete the summer Train the Trainer Sessions. Districts may wish to send both
elementary and secondary representatives for the four assessed content areas. Larger districts
should consider designating sufficient staff members to assure that all district schools can be
scheduled with a trainer for the Train the Trainer training. Online registration for Component 2
will be sent out on June 28 and will be due back to the Department of Education with a
deadline of Monday, July 12. Teachers or specialists not on twelve-month contracts who
participate in this summer training will be paid a stipend (currently $155 plus OECs) upon
satisfactory completion of their training.
Training Schedule
Train the Trainer Sessions: One full-day session for district-nominated curriculum
specialists and lead teachers on the following dates:
July 20 (NCC)
July 21 (Sussex)
August 5 (NCC)
August 9 (Kent)
August 11 (NCC)
August 13 (Sussex)
August 16 (Kent)
Component #1 Online module Sessions: Available for use July 16. Online access
information will be sent to districts and charters by June 30.
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Component #2 Content area Sessions: Scheduled by districts and charters to be
completed by the end of the first semester (no later than January 31).
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Tracking Teacher/Specialist/Administrator participation for RTTT Reporting
The Department has arranged to use the Blackboard online learning site for registered training
of all teachers, specialists, and school administrators. Documentation of educator completion
of this training is important for RTTT reporting to the US DOE. Clock hours for completion of
both Component #1 and #2 will be given to all participating educators.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Recommended District/Charter School Follow-through Activities for 2010-2011 School Year
It will be important for districts and charter school leaders to continue professional
development throughout the year to deepen teacher understanding of these standards and the
aligned instruction critical to student success in their classroom learning and on measures of
their achievement, including the DCAS.
The Department looks forward to collaborative work with districts, charter schools, and with
the Coalitions of Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and the Reading Cadre to develop
activities and resources for use to address the following aspect of the RTTT Scope of Work Area
#1(Standards & Assessments):
 Ensure curriculum aligns with standards, is implemented with fidelity, is having
expected impact on student achievement, and is modified if ineffective (not
included in this proposal)
These activities may include but are not limited to (1) curriculum mapping activities across
grade clusters or complete content areas, (2) reviews of student group performance data on
the DCAS assessments, and (3) faculty-led development and implementation of new or revised
units of instruction (e.g. recommended K-12 Social Studies curriculum currently in pilot phase).
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