Here comes the Common Core….

Many of you have started to hear about something called the Common Core State Standards which have been adopted by 45 states, including Michigan.

The mission of the Common Core State Standards is to:

…provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers. With American students fully prepared for the future, our communities will be best positioned to compete successfully in the global economy.

The standards are to be in place by the 2014-2015 school year.  In addition, the plan calls for online testing which will require us to have the necessary technology in place for conducting district-wide assessments.  The bottom line, a lot is about to change…. again…..

While for the average student or staff member 2014-2015 may seem like something way down the road, we are planning now to make sure we are ready to hit the ground running.  We have been meeting with staff, piloting new curriculum, aligning professional development and identifying where our needs are greatest.

Over the next several months you will begin to hear more and more about this transition and what it means for us as a school district and as a community.  However, with that said I want to offer this caution – do not see this as the “next thing” in education.  The idea of states working together around agreed upon objectives is new.  We are looking at this as an opportunity to reflect on what we currently do and to identify the key skills we want our students have when they leave Saline Area Schools.