The Delano Union School District Common Core State Standards Implementation Timeline
The Delano Union School District has initiated our implementation plan for the new Common Core State Standards. Prior to the start of the 2012-2013 school year, district staff developed and outlined a district implementation plan for all grade levels. With cooperation from all stakeholders, an action plan was developed and is currently in process.
During our current school year, all district teachers in grades Kinder and First receive ongoing professional development in the new standards. This work includes; unwrapping the standards, selecting essential learning standards, identifying and understanding instructional techniques necessary for the new standards, and designing unit of studies for each of the essential learning standards.
The professional development process will continue into the 2013-2014 school year, when all teachers in grades 2-8 receive similar professional development.
- During the 2012-2013 school year, all Kindergarten students receive instruction targeted to the Common Core State Standards.
- During the 2013-2014 school year, all Kindergarten and First Grade students will receive instruction targeted to the Common Core State Standards.
- During the 2013-2014 school year, all teachers in grades 2-8 will receive ongoing professional development in the Common Core State Standards.
- Beginning in 2014-2015, all students will receive instruction targeted to the Common Core State Standards.
- Beginning in 2014-2015, all students in grades 3-8 will take the new Smarter Balanced Assessments.
What Are the Common Core State Standards?
The Common Core State Standards 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. -Mission Statement (www.corestandards.org)
Building on the excellent foundation of standards states have laid, the Common Core State Standards are the first step in providing our young people with a high-quality education. It should be clear to every student, parent, and teacher what the standards of success are in every school.
Teachers, parents and community leaders have all weighed in to help create the Common Core State Standards. The standards clearly communicate what is expected of students at each grade level. This will allow our teachers to be better equipped to know exactly what they need to help students learn and establish individualized benchmarks for them. The Common Core State Standards focus on core conceptual understandings and procedures starting in the early grades, thus enabling teachers to take the time needed to teach core concepts and procedures well—and to give students the opportunity to master them.
With students, parents and teachers all on the same page and working together for shared goals, we can ensure that students make progress each year and graduate from school prepared to succeed in college and in a modern workforce.
Authors: National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Council of Chief State School Officers www.corestandards.org
