Common Core Transition
Keystone Exams
Project Based Assessments
IU Curriculum Coordinators
December 8, 2011
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Common Core Transition
The Pennsylvania Journey
English Language Arts
Mathematics
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The Direction
 Eligible Content rewritten to embrace Common Core
Standards
 PA Academic Standards revised to reflect the content
and rigor of Common Core.
 PSSA aligned to revised Eligible Content
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What Common Core Says - ELA
Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis
of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn
from text. (Common Core: Gr. 7)
What We Have - ELA
ASSESSMENT ANCHOR
R7.A.1 Understand fiction appropriate to grade level.
ELIGIBLE CONTENT
R7.A.1.3 Make inferences, draw
conclusions, and make
generalizations based on text.
R7.A.1.3.1 Make inferences
and/or draw conclusions based
on information from the text.
R7.A.1.3.2 Cite evidence from
text
When It’s Revised - ELA
ASSESSMENT ANCHOR
R-07.A – L1.1 1
Key Ideas and Details
R07.A.1.1 Demonstrate
understanding of key ideas an
details in literature.
EC: Cite several pieces of
textual evidence to support
analysis of what the text says
explicitly as well as inferences,
conclusions, and/or
generalizations drawn from text.
And the related standards…
 1.1.7.D Demonstrate comprehension/understanding
before reading, during reading, and after reading
on grade level texts through strategies such as
comparing and contrasting texts, identifying
context, and interpreting positions and arguments,
distinguishing fact from opinion, and citing several
pieces of textual evidence from the text to support
analysis of text and conclusions.
 1.2.7.D Draw generalizations, inferences, and
conclusions based on a variety of information
sources citing evidence from multiple texts to
What Common Core Says - Math
Instructional time at Grade 3 should focus on four critical
areas:
Developing understanding of multiplication and division
and strategies for multiplication and division within 100
Developing understanding of fractions, especially unit
fractions (fractions with numerator 1)
Developing understanding of the structure of rectangular
arrays and of area
Describing and analyzing two-dimensional shapes.
What Common Core Says - Math
Use multiplication and division within 100 to solve word
problems in situations involving equal groups, arrays, and
measurement quantities, e.g., by using drawings and
equations with a symbol for the unknown number to
represent the problem. (Common Core: Grade 3)
What We Have
ASSESSMENT ANCHOR
M3.A.3 Compute accurately and fluently and make reasonable
estimates.
M3.A.3.1 Solve problems using
addition, subtraction and
multiplication (straight
computation and word
problems).
M3.A.3.1.2 Solve problems
involving multiplication through
the 9’s tables through 9x5.
When It’s Revised - Math
ASSESSMENT ANCHOR
M03.B-O.1
Represent and solve problems involving multiplication and division
M03.B-O.1 .2
Solve problems using multiplication
and division, including determining
the missing number in a
multiplication and/or division
equation.
EC: M03.B-O.1 .2.1
Use multiplication (up to and
including 10 x 10) and division (limit
dividends through 50, and limit
divisors and quotients through 10)
to solve word problems in situations
involving equal groups, arrays, and
measurement quantities
Is this exciting?
 Work groups to develop PA Common Core Standards will
convene January 18, 19, and 20, 2012.
 Projected work plan:
 Math and English Language Arts
 Grades 3 – 8 and 11
 Link revised Anchor and Eligible Content to existing PA
Academic Standards
 Rewrite PA Academic Standards to create big idea
statements to create PA Common Core Standards
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Even more exciting…
 IU curriculum staff assist in developing training
modules to assist districts in transition
 Understanding the PA Common Core model
 Developing a step by step process for curriculum
evaluation/revision in districts
 Creating crosswalk documents as needed
 Develop a training delivery system
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Timeline
DATE
October 2011
January 2012
January 2012
PDE ACTIVITY
Revise Anchor/Eligible Content in Math and Reading in
grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11 to align to Common Core Standards
Revise PA Academic Standards in Reading and Math to
create set of PA Common Core Standards
Begin development of Common Core aligned PSSA Reading
and Math tests
February 2012
Post PA Common Core Standards on SAS
February 2012
Develop PA Common Core train the trainer modules for IU
delivery to LEAs
February – May
2012
February 2012 ongoing
Offer CC training sessions to LEAs
Align SAS resources to PA Common Core Standards
Spring 2014
Implement Common Core aligned PSSA tests, grades 3-5
Spring 2015
Implement Common Core aligned PSSA tests, grades 6-8
Assessment Overview
Grade
Math
Reading
Writing
Science
3
X
X
4
X
X
5
X
X
6
X
X
7
X
X
8
X
X
X
X
Keystone
Exams
Algebra I
Literature
English
Composition
Biology
X
X
LEA Goals
 Continue with Common Core curriculum alignment
 Determine Keystone Exam schedule
 Plan for Keystone Project Based Assessment option
To assist…
 IU delivery of Common Core and Project Based
Assessment trainings
 SAS posting of PA Common Core Standards and
Anchor/Eligible Content
http://www.pdesas.org/standard/CommonCore
http://jaymctighe.com/resources/
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Keystone Exams
English Language Arts
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies
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Keystone Exams
 Keystone Exam Status
 2011 – 2012
 2012 – 2013
 Assessed Content Areas
 Algebra I
 Biology
 Literature
 English Composition
 AYP Status and Keystone Exams
Keystone Exam Schedule
 Operational: 2012 – 2013
 Algebra I
 Biology
 Composition
 Literature
 Field Test: 2012 – 2013
 Civics and Government
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Project Based Assessments
An Alternative Pathway to Proficiency
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Chapter 4
Students who do not score proficient or above on a
Keystone Exam after having taken the test at least twice
may choose to complete a project based assessment for
that module based upon the requirements as detailed
below.
Chapter 4
If a student is unable to meet the requirements in §
4.24(b)(1)(iv)(A) (relating to high school graduation
requirements) after two attempts on a Keystone Exam,
the student may supplement a Keystone Exam score
through satisfactory completion of a project-based
assessment. Points earned through satisfactory
performance on one or more project modules related to
the Keystone Exam module or modules on which the
student did not pass shall be added to the student’s
highest Keystone Exam score.
Project Based Assessment Overview
 Created by PA educators guided by curriculum experts
 Scaffolded tasks building to the creation and submission
of a Project Based Assessment
 Five to seven hour time frame for completion
 Project work by student completed before, during, or
after school in supervised environment
 PSSA accommodations apply
Roles in the PBA
 Student
 Monitor
 Tutor
 School Site Administrator
 District Level Administrator
 Intermediate Unit
 Regional Review Panel
Review of Sample PBA
 Online Delivery
 Secure Site
 Accessible by Defined Roles
http://bb.plsweb.com/k12lms/home.php
Field Testing
Purpose: Evaluate the online tool as well as the quality of
the projects

Scheduled for early 2012

Volunteer School Districts
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I wonder…
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Contact Information
 Contact:
Common Core
Jean Dyszel
jmdyszel@verizon.net
 Contact:
Keystone Exams
 Contact:
Project Based Assessments
Rich Maraschiello
c-rmarasch@pa.gov
David Volkman
dvolkman@pa.gov