COMMON CORE—WHAT IS IT?

• For 25 years our curriculum has been known

as the North Carolina Course of Study

• Many courses had “End of Course Exams”

(EOC’s)

• Over 40 states have implemented the

Common Core

• The goal is to make sure that all students

graduate from high School with knowledge

and skills necessary for success in college

and their career

COMMON CORE—WHAT IS IT?

• Beginning with this school year, Common Core standards are

being implemented in English/Language Arts and Math as well

as Essential Standards in other subject areas

• Purpose is to provide a more rigorous curriculum

• Provide students a deeper understanding of content and

students will be expected to apply acquired knowledge

• To standardize curriculum across the country

• Focus on developing 21st Century skills

COMMON CORE--TESTING

• Students subject to mandatory testing annually

• Testing will include more electronic based testing and tests will

include multiple choice, written response items and performance

tasks

• First test cycle will be in the Spring of 2014

• Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium will develop the tests

COMMON CORE—WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT?

• Emphasis on skill development and application of knowledge

• More ―doing‖ –hands on, etc.

• More use of knowledge

• ALL courses are impacted-Literacy is emphasized

• More emphasis on reading and writing within content areas

• Students will have more open ended questions

• More real world applications

• Problem solving and evaluation

PURPOSE OF COMMON EXAMS: TO MEASURE EDUCATOR EFFECTIVENESS

COMMON EXAMS—MEASURING

STUDENT LEARNING * Exams designed for currently non-tested subjects

(does not replace any existing tests)

* Built by the state – every district will have the same exams

* Intended to replace final exams in high school

* Not part of the school accountability model but used as a teacher effectiveness measurement

Earth/Environmental Science

Chemistry

ELA I

ELA III

ELA IV

Adv. Funct & Modeling

Civics & Economics

OCS Applied Science

Physics

Physical Science

US History

World History

Waivers for 2012-13: (NO CE)

Alg II/ Integrated Math III

Geometry

Additional Tests 2nd Semester:

OCS ELA I

OCS ELA III

OCS ELA IV

OCS Financial Management

OCS Introductory Math

Additional Tests 2013-14:

American History I

American History II

COMMON EXAMS—COURSES—FALL 2012-13

GRADING COMMON EXAMS

How it counts within the student grades are determined by each school system

High School: just like a final exam - 25% of final grade

Scores returned by software (scanner) will be percent of total possible points (no proficiency cut score)

WS/FCS will be creating a district ‗curve‘ that reflects a similar pattern to EOC grades

GRADING AND SCORING

Each district is responsible for scoring the exams (DPI)

Multiple choice – scanned at central office

Constructed response - scored by school personnel

Scoring processes are determined by each district; DPI offers the

possibility of one or two scorers

Teacher of record cannot be the sole scorer

WS/FCS will have two scorers; the teacher of record and another

subject matter expert

COMMON EXAM SCHEDULE

Thursday 1/10/12

8:55-9:35 2nd Period Class

9:40-11:40 1st Period CE

11:40-1:35 4th Class/Lunch

11:45-12:15 1st Lunch

12:25-12:55 2nd Lunch

1:05-1:35 3rd Lunch

1:40-3:40 3rd Period CE

Friday 1/11/12

8:55-9:35 1st Period Class

9:40-11:40 2nd Period CE

11:40-1:35 3rd Class/lunch

11:45-12:15 1st Lunch

12:25-12:55 2nd Lunch

1:05-1:35 3rd Lunch

1:40-3:40 4th Period CE

SEMESTER EXAM SCHEDULE

Monday

January 7

A Day

Tuesday

January 8

B Day

Wednesday

January 9

A Day

Thursday

January 10

B Day

Friday

January 11

A Day

Regular

Day

Schedule

Schools give

Common Exams in

1st and 3rd

periods

Schools give

Common

Exams in 2nd

and 4th periods

Monday

January 14

B Day

Tuesday

January 15

A Day

Wednesday

January 16

B Day

Thursday

January 17

A Day

Friday

January 18

B Day

AM:

-Block: 8:55-

1:00

-A/B:

8:55-10:55

11:00-1:00

1st period Block

Exam

--1B midterm (take roll)

--1A midterm

3rd period Block

Exam --3A midterm

(take roll)

--3B midterm

2nd period Block

Exam --2B midterm

(take roll)

--2A midterm

4th period Block

Exam --4A midterm

(take roll)

--4B midterm

Makeups

Scoring CR

(Regular B

day)

Lunch

PM

??-3:40

3B Class

Study/Review

Scoring CR

2A Class

Study/Review

Scoring CR

4B Class

Study/Review

Scoring CR

1A Class

Makeups

Scoring CR

SENIOR EXEMPTIONS

• There are no exemptions from the Common Exams-they are required

• Senior Exemptions for Fall Semester will be honored the following week

• There will be a required graded assignment given during the exam period

for students who did not earn an exemption in any class a Common Exam

was required.

• Common Exams will replace the traditional teacher developed semester

exam

• It is most likely that the exemption practice will radically change or become

extinct

MORE CHANGES—LOOKING AHEAD

• In addition to curricular changes, evaluation changes, testing changes…the State is updating it‘s student software package

• POWER SCHOOL will be the new product

• This is a TREMENDOUS transition at all levels—building, district, and State

• Very tight and demanding timeline

• Buildings need to have Fall 2013 master schedule completed by May 1st.

REGISTRATION 2013

Registration Timeline –

• Student Registration meetings – the week of January 25th

• Registration Fair and PTSA Meeting – January 31st at

6:30pm

• Individual Registration Meeting with Parents/Students –

February 4th – March 8th

• Final Registration Deadline – March 11th

REGISTRATION – WHAT CAN I BE DOING NOW?

• Talk with first semester teachers about course placements for next year

• Look at last year‘s registration handbook (available online) at course

offerings to begin thinking about what to take next year

• Make a 1, 2, 3 or 4 year plan regarding course selections

• Consider whether or not to attend the Career Center – think about all the

factors and attend their open house

• Consider future plans regarding sports/clubs/arts/jobs, etc.

• Check with arts teachers regarding audition processes

• Research College choices to see requirements/recommendations