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What is the Common Core?

Common Core is a set o standards that

were developed to prepare students tobe college and career ready by the end o

12th grade. Nearly all states have adopted

the Common Core, including Caliornia.

The Common Core State Standards

(CCSS) provide a practical way to prepare

children or the challenges o a constantly

changing world by learning step-by-

step the real-world skills they need or

career and college.

The Common Core standards are

important because they create

consistency across the state, so students

within our educational system are all

aforded the same instructional targets

and expectations or what high school

graduates know and are able to do

academically.

This will ensure that we maintain

Americas competitive edge, so that all

o our students are well prepared with

the skills and knowledge necessary to

compete with not only their peers here athome, but with students rom around the

world.

With the goal o all students

graduating rom our public

school system as lie- long

learners who will have the

skills and knowledge necessary to assume

their positions in the 21st century global

economy.

Will there be new tests for thenew standards?

Yes, Caliornia students will be taking

the SMARTER Balanced Assessment

Consortium (SBAC) that will measure

student progress toward career and

college readiness. You may learn more

about the new tests and Caliornias

participation in the SBAC at http://www.

cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sa/smarterbalanced.

asp.

The Smarter Balanced

assessment adjusts the

di culty o questions based

on student responses. For

example, a student who

answers a question correctly

will receive more challenging questions,

while an incorrrect answer generates

an easier question. By adapting to the

student as the assessment is taking place,

these assessments present an individually

tailored set o questions to each studentsand can quickly identiy which skills

students have mastered. School districts

will have the option o taking

a paper version o the test as

a transition or the rst 3-5

years.

MPUSD: What are we doing to

prepare?

We have done the ollowing things since

learning o the CCSS.

Developed a Common Core

Implementation Plan during the

2011-12 school year

Trained staf to learn how to

transition rom the current standards

to the Common Core standards, and

deepen their understanding o how

student learning will be tested using

the Smarter Balance assessment

Held District widecollaborative activities within

our Proessional Learning

Communities model to

discuss the new requirements

and create action plans

Which grades are using it, and

in which subject areas?

Our Proessional Learning Communities

have begun collaborating on the

transition to Common Core StateStandards in the areas o writing and math

For the rst phase o implementation

teachers will assess students on a set o

Common Core Standards or writing and

written language. Students will take math

perormance tasks, based upon the CCSS

Common Core Chronicles

A Guide to the Common Core State Standards

Monterey Peninsula Unified School District

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What does the district need to be able to apply

computer testing in 2015?

MPUSD stakeholders are currently updating the district

Education Technology Plan and assessing what will be required

throughout the district to support teaching and learning. A

primary goal o the Technology Plan committee is to ensure

that students have the basic computer skills required to take the

Smarter Balance assessment.

How many computers per child

do you have in the district?

Currently, MPUSD has approximately

3,800 computers available or

student use. At a minimum, every

school site has two laptop cart

classroom sets available or students.

MPUSD has developed a team o

Common Core Teacher Leaders rom every school site whoattend quarterly meetings which will provide training regarding

the Common Core State Standards and their impact on the

classroom. Resources will be shared at the quarterly district wide

collaboration, where all MPUSD teachers will meet. Teachers will

also share ideas, best practices and resources on Google Sites.

MPUSD: Real World Testing

Perormance tasks challenge students to apply

their knowledge and skills to respond to real-

world problems. Students in MPUSD are currently

practicing the perormance task assessments

in English and Math. MPUSD teachers meet inweekly Proessional Learning Community groups

to discuss student learning, and many teams

have elected to use perormnace tasks as part o

their lessons on a regular basis.

Last year, a group o teachers participating in the Caliornia

Math and Science Project (CaMSP) piloted a math perormance

task assessment by MARS (Math Assessment Resource Service).

Upon review o the assessment one teacher commented, When

they have to write and explain, I can see exactly where the student

is and its a much better assessment. Kids have to think and

justiy their answers rather than simply ollowing steps to get the

right answer. When I read their answers, I learn not only whether

they got it right or wrong, but also

how they were thinking. MARS

(Math Assessment) perormance

tasks will be included in the math

benchmarks this upcoming school

year.

Transitioning to the CCSS: What Parents andGuardians Can Do Now

Parents and guardians are crucial partners in laying the

groundwork or a smooth transition to the

new standards. Parents and guardians can:

Learn about the CCSS and the districts

transition plan.

Talk to the principal about the schools

plans or the transition to learn what

will be diferent about these new

standards and what will remain the

same or children.

Attend a board and/or community

meeting to discuss district goals and timelines.

Play an active role in your childs education at home. I you

notice your child is struggling in a certain area, consult with

his or her teacher to identiy strategies and resources that

might be helpul.

Explore opportunities to become actively involved inthe Common Core transition through your state and

local Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) or Parent Teache

Organization (PTO).

English:

Provide more challenging texts AND provide texts

they WANT to read and can read comortably

Knowwhat is grade level appropriate

Read challenging text with them

Math:

Ask your child to explain why the answer i

what it is

Provide TIMEor your child to work hard with

math at home

Resources for Parents and Guardians

California Department of Education CCSS Web Page: http://www

cde.ca.gov/re/cc/ (select Students/Parents tab)

SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium Information:

http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sa/smarterbalanced.asp

K-8 Californias Common Core Standards Parent Handbook:http://www.ccsesa.org/sysadmin/documents/

CCSParentHandbook_020411.doc

The PTA Parents Guide to Students Success (in English and

Spanish)