Volume 1
December 2013
A Newsletter for GUSD Parents and Community What is the Common Core? Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are learning expectations for students across the nation in grades K12. If you break down each word, it is easy to understand. Common – This means the same for every student in 45 states. Core – These are the most important skills and knowledge we want our students to learn to be prepared for their futures.
California’s Adoption of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are not a set of lessons that teachers use. Instead they describe the knowledge and skills students are expected to develop. These were adopted in California in August 2010. The K-12 Common Core State Standards were developed through a state-led effort. These establish consistent and clear education standards for English language arts and mathematics. The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) strengthen our existing California English language arts state standards. Specifically they add expectations for collaborative discussions. Also these literacy standards reach across the content areas. Students are expected to use reading and writing skills to learn history/social science, science, and technology. In mathematics, standards were added to demonstrate a stronger emphasis on number sense and algebraic thinking. Implementation of the Common Core in California’s Schools will occur in stages over the next few years.
State – Representatives from states gathered together to create these expectations. So, students in Massachusetts are learning the same things as students in California. Standards – The learning goals we want students to reach, especially when compared to students around the world. What does this mean for students in their classes? Our students are working to learn foundational reading, writing, listening and speaking skills to apply in all areas of life. The goal is for students to become independent readers and thinkers, and active citizens prepared for career and college in the 21st century global economy.
Why Common Core State Standards (CCSS)? California educators joined the national movement to adopt common standards and assessments for English language arts and mathematics. In the past, standards for what students should know and be able to do varied among states. More importantly, the test we gave students to measure those standards varied as well. In other words, we used to compare apples to oranges to broccoli to rice. With Common Core State Standards students across the nation, including California, will learn the same things and be assessed in the same way. These common learning goals help ensure that students meet college and career expectations. They help students prepare to succeed in a global economy and society. It is important to know that our standards stand up against international education standards. The Common Core Standards (CCSS) assist students in their preparation to complete the requirements for enrollment at a California public university. Parents can feel confident that students will be ready for their future.
Board of Education Nayiri Nahabedian, President | Mary Boger, Vice President | Gregory Krikorian, Clerk | Christine Walters, Member | Dr. Armina Gharpetian, Member