Common Core
Page Contents
Welcome to PUSD’s Common Core State Standards (CCSS) Webpage
The Common Core State Standards describe the knowledge and skills in English Language Arts and Mathematics that students will need when they graduate, whatever their choice of college or career. These sets of standards define the knowledge and skills students should have to succeed in entry level, credit-bearing, academic college courses and in workforce training programs. The standards are based on the best national and international standards, giving students a competitive advantage in the global economy. This state-led effort is coordinated by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). California, along with 48 other states, has adopted the Common Core Standards. The California Department of Education, along with school districts across the state, is in the process of rolling out the standards to educators and policy-makers.
Where can I see the standards?
You can find the standards and all related official documents on the official CCSS website. For a direct link to the standards, see below:
An Overview of the Common Core ELA/Math – Common Core FAQ
Common Core Infographic – What Everyone Needs to Know About the Common Core Standards
To learn more about the Common Core State Standards, the Piedmont Unified School District is hosting educational workshops for parents throughout the 2014-15 school year. Parent Education Nights will provide opportunities for parents and community members to learn more about the CCSS, as well as the new assessment systems.
General Resources for Families
California Department of Education (CDE) – Common Core State Standards – CA Dept of Education CCSS
The Common Core State Standards – Parents and Guardians – ccssandparents
Handbook for Parents (K-8) – CCSSParentHandbook_2011
Common Core – Math
Last year, the PUSD Board of Education approved a plan for the multi-year implementation of Common Core (CC) Math, starting with new middle school math courses in 2014/15. PMS is now offering three new courses: CC 6, CC7 and CC8. Students who were enrolled in Intro to Algebra through Calculus AB during the 2013/14 school year are continuing in the 1997 California Math Standards pathways, and are not affected by the implementation of Common Core Math. (Please refer to the District’s Common Core Math FAQ for more background information)
Later this school year, the Board will adopt the next phase of Common Core math implementation. To inform decisions around this next phase, the Board created a Math Task Force (MTF) consisting of math teachers, parents, students, and administrators. The MTF is charged with considering and recommending options for math courses and math pathways in middle and high school. The MTF published a November Progress Report highlighting their efforts.
Additionally, PUSD has developed a timeline for future parent engagement opportunities on Common Core Math.
- Math Task Force Recommended Math Course Pathways – FAQ
- Middle & High School Pathways to College, Careers, and Citizenship, A Report for the PUSD Mathematics Task Force, Cheryl Holzmeyer, Ph.D.
- PUSD Board of Education Presentation- Integrated Math – 1/14/15
- Jan. 7th Parent Education Night – the key concepts behind Traditional Math and Integrated Math at the middle and high school levels
- Integrated and Traditional Math FAQ – January 7, 2015
- PMS Parent’s Club Presentation on Common Core Math – 12/12/14, Randall Booker – PUSD Asst. Superintendent
- Common Core Mathematics Options: Assessing Traditional & Integrated Curricular Possibilities, A Report for the PUSD Mathematics Task Force, Cheryl Holzmeyer, Ph.D.
- “Why Students in US Need Common Core Math.” Presented by Stanford Math Professor, Dr. Jo Boaler
- Common Core Math − A Grade by Grade View for Parents, developed by Tricia Bevans and Dev Sinha of the University of Oregan Department of Mathematics – November 2014.
- Dec. 1st Parent Education Night – Presentation By David Foster, Executive Director – SVMI
- PUSD Common Core Math FAQ – Updated March 31, 2014
- Summary of May 28, 2014 – Math Pathway Decisions – PUSD Board of Education Meeting
- Math Pathway Options 5-14-14 Board of Education meeting
- Highlights of the Mathematics Standards – CCSS – Mathematics Highlights
- Common Core Math Practice Standards
- Illustrated Mathematics – K-12 Math Standards Illustrated
- State Board of Education-Adopted Appendix A: Course Placement and Sequences Recommendations
- CC – Math – Where to Focus: Kindergarten
- CC – Math – Where to Focus: 1st Grade
- CC – Math – Where to Focus: 2nd Grade
- CC – Math – Where to Focus: 3rd Grade
- CC – Math – Where to Focus: 4th Grade
- CC – Math – Where to Focus: 5th Grade
- CC – Math – Where to Focus: 6th Grade
- CC – Math – Where to Focus: 7th Grade
- CC – Math – Where to Focus: 8th Grade
- CC – Math Parent Road Map: Kindergarten
- CC – Math Parent Road Map: 1st Grade
- CC – Math Parent Road Map: 2nd Grade
- CC – Math Parent Road Map: 3rd Grade
- CC – Math Parent Road Map: 4th Grade
- CC – Math Parent Road Map: 5th Grade
- CC – Math Parent Road Map: 6th Grade
- CC – Math Parent Road Map: 7th Grade
- CC – Math Parent Road Map: 8th Grade
- CC – Math Parent Road Map: High School
Common Core – English Language Arts
- Highlights of the English Language Arts Standards – CCSS – ELA Highlights
- English Language Arts – Anchor Strands: Reading (Foundational); Reading (Informational); Reading (Literature); Writing; Language; Speaking & Listening – K-12 Anchor Standards
- Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects – Anchor Strands: Reading; Writing – K-12 Anchor Standards
- Relationships and Convergences Found in the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics (practices), Common Core State Standards in ELA/Literacy*(student portraits), and A Framework for K-12 Science Education (science & engineering practices).
Smarter Balanced Assessment
The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium is one of two multistate consortia awarded funding from the U.S. Department of Education to develop an assessment system based on the new Common Core State Standards (CCSS). To achieve the goal that all students leave high school ready for college and career, Smarter Balanced is committed to ensuring that assessment and instruction embody the CCSS and that all students, regardless of disability, language or subgroup status, have the opportunity to learn this valued content and to show what they know and can do.
To learn more about the Smarter Balanced Assessment, visit the following links:
Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium – Website
SBAC Sample Questions & Performance Tasks – FAQ
SBAC Sample Questions – ELA/Literacy
SBAC Sample Questions – Mathematics
SBAC – Practice Test – for teachers/students/community members
Smarter Balanced Assessment Summary for Parents – SBACSummary2010
Smarter Balanced Assessment Fact Sheet – Smarter-Balanced-Parents-Factsheet
Assembly Bill 484
Signed into law on October 2, 2013, AB 484 (Bonilla) establishes the California Measurement of Academic Performance and Progress (CalMAPP) assessment system. The CalMAPP system replaces the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program. The primary purpose of the CalMAPP system is to assist teachers, administrators, and pupils and their parents by promoting high-quality teaching and learning through the use of a variety of assessment approaches and item types.
California Department of Education – Assembly Bill 484 – Q&A and Additional Resources
Common Core State Standards Resources
Grades TK-5
This first link is a general introductory overview of the new Common Core State Standards (CCSS). The video is three minutes long.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IGD9oLofks
The video below is an overview of the math standards and how they were developed. The video is eight minutes long. It was done by the Hunt Institute.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnjbwJdcPjE&list=UUF0pa3nE3aZAfBMT8pqM5PA&index=5&feature=plcp
The video is an overview of the English/language arts standards and how they were developed. The video is seven minutes long and was done by the Hunt Institute.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDzTOyxRGLI&list=UUF0pa3nE3aZAfBMT8pqM5PA&index=6&feature=plcp
The video below from the Teaching Channel is a 14 minute overview of the ELA and literacy standards for grades K-12.
https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/common-core-standards-ela?fd=1
The video below discusses literacy in other subject areas like science, history/social studies and technical areas. This video is four minutes long.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zHWMfg_8r0&list=UUF0pa3nE3aZAfBMT8pqM5PA&index=11&feature=plcp
The link below will take you to all of the Hunt Institute videos for CCSS.
http://www.ccsso.org/Resources/Digital_Resources/Common_Core_Implementation_Video_Series.html
The link below will take you to all of the Teaching Channel videos for CCSS.
https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos?page=1&categories=topics_common-core&q=common%20core
The link below will take you to the California Department of Education resource page for CCSS. The actual standards can be found on this page. The first two links provide the Literacy and math standards by grade level.
The link below will take you to the Sacramento County Office of Education website which has, in addition to the common core standards, the “Crosswalk” documents which line up the old standards with the new ones and show similarities and differences.
http://www.scoe.net/castandards/index.html
Common Core State Standards Resources
Grades 6-12 | Grades TK-5
This first link is a general introductory overview of the new Common Core State Standards (CCSS). The video is three minutes long.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IGD9oLofks
The video below is an overview of the math standards and how they were developed. The video is eight minutes long.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnjbwJdcPjE&list=UUF0pa3nE3aZAfBMT8pqM5PA&index=5&feature=plcp
The video is an overview of the English/language arts standards and how they were developed. The video is seven minutes long.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDzTOyxRGLI&list=UUF0pa3nE3aZAfBMT8pqM5PA&index=6&feature=plcp
OR, below is a link to a different video on ELA and literacy. It is 14 minutes long. It was done by the Teaching Channel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmLElb7yHDU
The video below discusses literacy in other subject areas like science, history/social studies and technical areas. This video is four minutes long.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zHWMfg_8r0&list=UUF0pa3nE3aZAfBMT8pqM5PA&index=11&feature=plcp
The video below explains about the CCSS for middle school. It is 14 minutes long.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC4OG11zOC8
The link below will take you to all of the Hunt Institute videos for CCSS.
http://www.ccsso.org/Resources/Digital_Resources/Common_Core_Implementation_Video_Series.html
The link below will take you to all of the Teaching Channel videos for CCSS.
https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos?page=1&categories=topics_common-core&q=common%20core
The link below will take you to the California Department of Education resource page for CCSS. The actual standardscan be found on this page. The first two links provide the Literacy and math standards by grade level.
The link below will take you to the Sacramento County Office of Education website which has, in addition to the common core standards, the “Crosswalk” documents which line up the old standards with the new ones and show similarities and differences.
http://www.scoe.net/castandards/index.html
Common Core State Standards Resources
English Language Learners
10 Things Parents Should Know About the Common Core Standards
http://www.colorincolorado.org/common-core/parents/faq/
CCSS Articles
Math Common Core Articles
Integrated Approach vs, Traditional Approach
Common Core Mathematics Options: Assessing Traditional & Integrated Curricular Possibilities, A Report for the PUSD Mathematics Task Force, Cheryl Holzmeyer, Ph.D.
Districts Split on High School Math Choices, 2014
Responding to Calls for Change in High School Mathematics: Implications for Collegiate Mathematics – 2003
Teachers’ Conceptions of Integrated Mathematics Curricula
Improving Students’ College Math Readiness: Postsecondary Interventions and Reforms
Effective Programs in Middle and High School Mathematics: A Best-Evidence Synthesis
A 10-Year Longitudinal Follow-up of Participants in a Fast-Paced Mathematics Course – 1994
Academically Talented Students’ Achievement in a Flexibly Paced Mathematics Program – 1991
Benefits of Early Algebra
The Impact of Early Algebra: Results from a Longitudinal Intervention – 2013
General Common Core Articles
The Common Core Ate My Baby and Other Urban Legends
by Timothy Shanahan
Educational Leadership – December 2012/January 2013 | Volume 70 | Number 4
Common Core: Now What? Pages 10-16
With Common Core, Fewer Topics but Covered More Rigorously
by Kenneth Chang
The New York Times – September 2, 2013
by Sandra Alberti
December 2012/January 2013 | Volume 70 | Number 4
Common Core: Now What? Pages 24-27