College and Career-Ready Standards for School Leaders

A report released by the Nebraska Department of Education showed Beatrice Public Schools eighth and 11th graders fell behind their peers on new statewide writing tests.

The reports, released earlier this week, reflect increased writing standards and a new testing method in those grades for 2012.

“A new, more rigorous writing process was introduced to students in grades 8 and 11,” the press release states. “In addition to the newly revised writing standards, the writing process became more ‘college and career ready.’”

Download or subscribe to free content from Grade 8 Mathematics for Common Core State Standards by Arkansas on iTunes.

Is UDL included in the common core?

• UDL is included in the section of the Common Core Standards called “application to students with disabilities”. In this section the authors referred to the definition laid out in the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (PL 110-135).The reference to UDL in this section may give the impression that UDL is just for students with disabilities. However, UDL not only applies to students with disabilities, it applies to all other learners as well. All students can benefit from the types of instruction used to reach learners “on the margins,” as the learning needs of all individuals vary a great deal. As such, UDL should be used within inclusive general education classrooms.
• Although this is the only specific mention of UDL, there are many concepts embedded throughout the Common Core Standards that are aligned with the UDL framework.

By Tom Vander Ark

Common Core State Standards lift expectations and create opportunity to compare results and share tools—a terrific set of benefits that America will reap for years. 

Fordham released a report today on the Cost of Implementing the Common Core. They concluded that states could save about $1 billion if they take full advantage of digital assessments and materials.

The argument essay is not the attack dog of the literary world. It should promote social interaction respectful listening. Learn characteristics of the essay genre.

By Timothy Kanold

National Center for Education Statistics. http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2012/2012045_1.pdf

Page 6 of the report provides some interesting High School data about these students. Here is some "access" data from the report:

"Only 30-35% of students nationally will have taken three years of science through Physics and three or four years of mathematics through Pre-Calculus - which describe and provide many of the high school Common Core "Plus" (+) standards."

There are about 14.9 million high school students 

Math Completors

88% will complete HS Geometry

76% Algebra II

35% Pre-Calculus/Analysis

16% Calculus

Science Completors

96% Biology

70% Chemistry

36% Physics

30% all three of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.