Q&a (for everyone)
- 1. Common Core/Essential Standards: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions Tuesday, January 17, 2011
- 2. Answer: While some states are phasing in the standards, DPI has indicated that all new standards must be put into Question: Can this be phased place for the 2012-2013 school in one level at a time? year. Having said that, High Schools will work on a phased- in schedule for some courses (since graduation requirements are different for freshman entering HS in August of 2012)
- 3. Answer: The standards are available for anyone who desires their own copy by visiting ACRE website. There is also a Common Question: When will teachers Core app for the iPhone and receive individual copies of the Android phones (sorry, nothing on standards? the Essential Standards, yet). Because of the extreme length of the standards and all supporting documents, the state is not supplying paper copies.
- 4. Answer: Time for collaboration and planning will be decided at the individual school level. The Question: Will time for PCS calendar committee is collaboration be allotted aware that we are transitioning throughout the 2012-2013 to new standards this year and academic year? a request has been submitted to include additional time in the schedule for ongoing integration days throughout the year.
- 5. Answer: Our next district-wide training sessions are March 2 and March 23. Additionally, optional content-level training events are being offered around the county beginning in Question: When do we get February. These trainings will be repeated in different another training session? locations to better meet the needs of teachers in terms of content, time, and location. All told, there are 192 additional training opportunities (see MLP to register!)
- 6. Answer: Parents will be kept informed of changes by media releases, the Success for Every Child blog, and also by school- Question: How will parents be level meetings as educated on the new appropriate. Schools are standards? encouraged to pass on information to parents at the appropriate time. In December Thomas Feller, the PCS RttT Coordinator, was interviewed by local radio station WECU, and more are planned.
- 7. Answer: There are several schools who are already implementing certain parts of the new standards. Teachers of subjects that do not have a Question: May we begin now or state-level test at the end of the do we need to wait for 2012- year are encouraged to 2013? implement as many of the new standards as they are able to.
- 8. Answer: Lesson plan formats are Question: Will these new a school-level decision. standards change our lesson plan formats?
- 9. Answer: Crosswalk documents are available at the ACRE website. Teachers are cautioned to not spend too much time in the Question: When will we get crosswalks at this point, though, the crosswalk documents? but should instead focus on the actual standards documents and the unpacking documents.
- 10. Answer: We have asked school leaders in our county to let the RttT/Staff Development Department Question: Will there be videos know when they see stuff going on to show model lessons being in their building that they think taught using the new common needs to be shared and we will video those lessons and post for core curriculum with real others to see. We are also finding teachers and real students? free materials online (which will be shared during trainings today and at future sessions – also look for them on the Success for Every Child blog)
- 11. Answer: We are still waiting for word from Raleigh as to whether the State Legislature will Question: Will we appropriate funds for textbooks receive new and resources. We have textbooks to align already been identifying with these standards? textbooks (should funds become available) and are also working to find free resources. Your IC has access to a shared resource folder on Groupwise where these resources are regularly shared & updated.
- 12. Answer: Team meetings are largely a school-based decision so that individual schools can decide what Question: Are we moving is best for their staff. PLCs are the toward a one size fits all best configuration we have seen for approach to teaching? identifying what needs to be taught, Meaning, will the PLC apply developing common formative to common planning and assessments, and fostering structure pacing? professional development at the school level. Every school should be using them as part of their over- all strategy to improve student achievement.
- 13. Answer: Yes. PCS is in the process of identifying an exact format for the new curriculum guides and they will be Question: Will the county completed during the summer provide pacing guides for the of 2012. Curriculum Summer new standards? If so, when? Institute 2012 (CSI) will focus on going over these new guides for teachers.
- 14. Answer: After this year, PLC schedules will be largely determined at the school Question: How often will we level. All teachers are have PLC meetings to discuss encouraged to meet at least the changes in our standards once a week with their PLC and how to fill the missing so they can develop common lessons, work on integrated gaps? unites, create common formative assessments, and frequently review student achievement data.
- 15. Answer: The guides will be developed by teachers, administrators, and central- office personnel. If you are Question: Who’s developing interested in participating the pacing guides? Can I be please let your principal or part of this process? District-level curriculum specialist know. Final decisions will be made in the late spring as to who will make up the committees.
- 16. Answer: In our training for the new standards we are working to model expectations for 21st Question: Will this be hands century learning, meaning on or technology based? We much more self-directed need hands on classes learning. Having said that, yes, instead of our own learning. there are upcoming after- This is discovery; what if we school trainings for every do it wrong on our own? content area that will be offered.
- 17. Answer: Planning time decisions are made at the local school level. Cross- curriculum planning should Question: Will there be time for be part of regular PLC cross-curriculum planning? meetings. Teachers are encouraged to work with their administrators to develop a schedule that allows regular time for collaboration.
- 18. Answer: No, though the format is changing. For more information on 21st century Question: Are the EOGs assessment, please visit the really going away? NC DPI’s ACRE website.
- 19. Answer: By visiting the Question: If I forget the Success for Every Child answers to these questions website where can I find them again? (http://successforeverychild. wordpress.com)
- 20. Answer: You can submit questions to the RttT team via your principal, your IC, or Question: If I think of more through the Success for Every questions I want to ask how Child website (there’s a form do I submit them? on the site for question submission)