Common Core State
Standards:
What Parents Need to
Know
Presentation Overview
Students are more likely
to succeed if parents
are involved!
Michigan’s Commitment to
Closing the Expectations Gap
• In 2006, Michigan aligned its high school academic standards in mathematics and
English with college- and career-ready expectations.
• In 2006, Michigan adopted college- and career-ready graduation requirements – the
Michigan Merit Curriculum – for all students. These requirements first took effect for
the Class 2011.
• Michigan requires all students to take the ACT, along with sections of WorkKeys and
state-developed tests, as part of its high school assessment system, the Michigan
Merit Exam.
• Michigan adopted the Common Core State Standards in June 2010.
• Michigan is a Governing State in the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium
(SBAC), a consortium of states working to develop a common assessment system
using Race to the Top Common Assessment funds.
• Michigan is a Lead State Partner in the development of the Next Generation
Science Standards.
Current Conditions
–
The Economic Imperative: A high school diploma is no longer enough;
now, nearly every good job requires some education beyond high school
and all students need to be academically prepared to compete for good
jobs in the global economy.
–
The Equity Imperative: Far too many students drop out or graduate from
high school unprepared for success. Students in minority groups drop out
and fail to attain postsecondary credentials at much higher rates than their
counterparts.
–
The Expectations Imperative: The bar has been set too low for too long,
keeping students from reaching their full potential, closing doors and
limiting their post-high school options and opportunities.
Current Conditions
 In 1950, 60% of jobs were classified as unskilled, attainable by young
people with high school diplomas or less. Today, 20% of jobs are
considered to be unskilled.
 One result: The demand for middle- and high-skilled workers is
outpacing the state’s supply of workers educated and experienced at
that level.
80% of Michigan’s jobs are middle or high skills (jobs that require some
postsecondary education or training).
Yet only 36% of Michigan’s adults have some postsecondary degree
(associate’s or higher).
National Center for Higher Education Management Systems, analysis of
2009 American Community Survey. http://www.higheredinfo.org
The Value of Education
Source: Carnevale, Anthony P. et al. (June 2010). Help Wanted: Projections of Jobs and Education
Requirements Through 2018. Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce.
ww9.georgetown.edu/grad/gppi/hpi/cew/pdfs/FullReport.pdf
“1 in 5 high school students
failed to qualify for enlistment in
the Army based on their Armed
Forces Qualification Test score.
Students of color were more
likely to fail the test.”
http://www.edtrust.org/sites/edtrust.org/files/publications/file
s/ASVAB_4.pdf
Personal Benefits: Higher Earnings and
Rates of Employment
Michigan Statistics: Total Unemployment: 11%, Mean Income: $30,561
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2011). Current Population Survey. Figures are based on the total
persons in the civilian labor force. http://www.census.gov/cps/data/cpstablecreator.html
9
Too Many Students Remain Off Track to
Success: Of Every 100 9th Graders in
Michigan…
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
100
71
42
28
18
9th Graders
Graduate
Enroll in
High School in College In the
4 Years
Fall
Still Enrolled
Sophomore
Year of
College
Source: National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (2008). Student Pipeline - Transition and
Completion Rates from 9th Grade to College. http://www.higheredinfo.org
Earn a
College
Degree
11
Enrollment in College Does NOT Equal
College Readiness in Michigan
Percentage of ACT-tested graduates who met or
exceeded the College Readiness Benchmark score, 2011
67%
59%
52%
46%
31%
25%
80%
60%
45%
36%
40%
26%
20%
21%
0%
U.S.
MI
All 4 tests
Science
Math
Reading
English
Note: A benchmark score indicates a 50% chance of obtaining a B
or higher or about a 75% chance of obtaining a C or higher in the
corresponding credit-bearing college courses.
Source: ACT (2012). College Readiness Benchmark Attainment by State.
http://www.act.org/newsroom/data/2012/benchmarks.html
“More than a third of incoming college
students in Michigan take high schoollevel classes on campus — essentially
repeating material they should have
learned before they got their diplomas”
“Remedial classes cost students,
schools and taxpayers over $100
million dollars annually”
-Ron French, Bridge Magazine
http://bridgemi.com/2012/05/remediation-higher-edsexpensive-bridge-to-nowhere/
Why do We Need Common Standards?
Low Levels of Rigor
• Current standards feature large amounts of
knowledge and recall learning targets
• Under-developing critical thinking abilities
• Disadvantaged in college and the workplace
Why Do we Need Common Standards?
Lack of Clarity
• “Write for a variety of purposes.”
• “Respond to variety of literary/informational
texts.”
• “Competently use money.”
• Are these standards clear to teachers, students,
and parents?
Why Do We Need Common Standards?
Inconsistencies
•
•
•
•
Different states set different learning targets
Different districts set different learning targets
Different classrooms learning different topics
We must expect high achievement from all
students in all classrooms
• “Academic standards are the starting point
of providing a quality education. Common
Core defines what we need kids to learn to
pursue their dreams, and assessments
measure whether students are learning
what they need to know to be successful.”
• (Gov. Bush – Opening Speech, National Summit 2011)
Results of Inconsistencies
• States requiring different content
• Cut scores for proficiency vary by state
• Students being taught and assessed at different
levels of rigor based on location
• Students who move may be far ahead or far
behind
• Large groups of students are disadvantaged in
the national and global economies
Why Do We Need Common Standards?
Barriers to Collaboration
• Educators are not working from the same
blueprints
• Chilling effect on the sharing of best practices
• Curricular materials not applicable to all places
• This creates an insular education community
where everyone is doing the same work over
and over again
What is the Common Core?
A set of clear, consistent,
internationally-benchmarked K-12
standards in English Language Arts and
Mathematics that will provide a clear
and consistent framework to prepare
our students for college and the
workplace.
What is the Common Core?
An effort led by the National Governor’s
Association, the Council of Chiefs of
State Schools, ACT, Achieve, College
Board, and many other groups that
created standards voluntarily adopted
by states.
Important!
Standards are the “What”
Standards are the overall goal we hope our
children achieve.
Curriculum is the “How”
Curriculum is the individual teaching
methodology used in the classroom.
State Board
of Education
• General planning and coordinating of
all public education, including higer
education
• Adopts academic standards
Michigan
Department
of Education
• Implementation of bills passed by the
legislature and policies established by
the State Board of Educaiton
• Implementation of federal programs
Local
School
District
• Selects Curriculum
• Selects Textbooks
How are Common Core Standards better?
•
•
•
•
•
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Increased complexity of texts
Focus on foundational math skills and
application in novel real-world situations
A return to depth as opposed to breadth
Increased focus on justifying and presenting
results and methods
Critical reading and writing infused in all
curricular areas
Re-ordering of math content to reflect researchbased path to college and career readiness
N.MR.04.22 Locate fractions with
Old Standard
denominators of 12 or less on the number
line: include mixed numbers
4.NF.2 Compare two fraction with different
New Standard
numerators and different denominators, e.g.,
by creating common denominators or
numerators, or by comparing to a benchmark
fraction such as ½. Recognize that
comparisons are valid only when the two
fractions refer to the same whole. Record the
results of comparisons with symbols >, =, or
<, and justify the conclusions, e.g., by using a
visual fraction model.
Benefits of Common Core
Preparation:
The CCSS will prepare students for
both college and the workplace and
emphasizes higher-order skills
instead of knowledge and recall.
Benefits of Common Core
Competition:
The CCSS are internationallybenchmarked, ensuring that our
students are prepared to be
competitive in the global job
market.
Benefits of Common Core
Equity:
The Common Core will foster
consistent expectations not
dependent on state or zip code. We
will hold all students to high
academic expectations.
Benefits of Common Core
Clarity:
The Common Core are focused,
coherent, and clear standards.
Everyone knows what is expected
of our students.
Benefits of Common Core
Collaboration:
CCSSI will be a foundation for
teachers, states, and districts to
work together from the same
blueprints. This will facilitate the
sharing of best practices.
Implementation Progress
43 states have voluntarily adopted
the Common Core, as well as the
District of Columbia, Guam, the
U.S. Virgin Islands, American
Samoan Islands, the Northern
Mariana Islands and the
Department of Defense.
Implementation
Staff Development is key to successful
implementation
http://www.ccsso.org/resources/digital_resources/common
_core_implementation_video_series.html
Math Standards
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlJ44te7jrw&playnext=
1&list=PL087DD8418FEDAC32
How Can You Help Your Child
Succeed with the Common Core
State Standards?
• Get PTA’s Parent Guide to Student Success
• Know what your Student will be expected to
know for his/her grade level
• Follow the guides recommendations to help
your child succeed
• Talk to your child’s teacher regularly about
how your child is doing
Things To Ask Your Child’s
Teacher:
•
•
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•
•
What are the most important skills my child will be
expected to learn this month/semester/year?
How will homework be different in English Language
Arts and Math this year?
What will my child be reading this year?
Are there examples of additional fiction or non-fiction
texts we could read at home?
What resources are available if my child needs
additional help or wants to learn more about a
particular topic
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/09/confused_over
_common_core_here.html
Things To Ask Your Child Throughout The
Year:
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•
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•
What did you read today? What was a particular piece of the text that
interested you or surprised you? Tell me about it. Connect with your
own anecdote regarding the topic.
What new words did you learn this week? What do they mean? Can
you spell them for me?
Let me see what your teacher(s) is (are) asking you to write this week.
Can I see your math homework? Can you do it on your own? Do you
need help? You may not have the answer, so it's okay to ask your
child's teacher for help or do your own research.
Later in the school year, real world application of math knowledge: What
do you know in math now that you didn't when school started? Give me
an example of how that is used in your everyday life. How did you
figure that out and why is it important to know that?
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/09/confused_o
ver_common_core_here.html
What Can You Do?
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Legislators need to know that parents
Vote
Support our Educators
Support College and Career Ready Standards
Want implementation to move forward
Want children to be able to compete and
succeed in the future.
Problems Parents have with
Common Core
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Misinformation about the Common Core
Math Homework
Curriculum
Suggested Reading List
Resources
Misinformation about
Common Core:
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Political Vortex
Federal Takeover of the Education System
Data Collection
Standards -vs- Curriculum
Low Performers drag down High Performers
What questions
do you have?
For more information contact:
Shaton Berry, Team Lead
313-218-9801
thestandards@michiganpta.org
MichiganPTA.org