Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Common Core State Standards

  
 NOTE TO PARENTS:
   In the upcoming 2013-2014 school year, schools in the state of Alabama will be adopting and implementing the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), which are a national set of learning expectations for college and career success that were developed by teachers, parents, school administrators, and education experts. These newly adopted standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn in K-12 math and language arts. While there are many similarities between the existing Alabama course of Study Standards and the CCSS, you might notice changes in what content is emphasized and the grade in which the content is taught. For example, there is an increased emphasis on informational text in elementary school in the new standards.
   The purpose of adopting the CCSS is not simply to align with other states, but rather to raise the bar in all grades to ensure that our students are receiving a relevant and rigorous education. The adoption of the CCSS means that your child will be better prepared to meet the demands of college and/or the work place in the 21st century. Today's global economy means that our students need to possess academic standards by the completion of twelfth grade to ensure their success in college and /or workforce. For additional information please go to www.corestandards.org. In addition, the National PTA has organized resources to help parents support their child. Information can  be found at www.pta.org/common_core_state_standards.asp