Colorado is one of 45 states that have adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for Math and English/Language Arts beginning with the 2013-14 schools year. The Colorado Academic Standards (CAS) in math, reading, writing and communicating incorporate the entire Common Core while addressing components that are unique to Colorado, including personal finance, literacy, 21st Century skills, prepared graduate competency and preschool expectations. The CAS are aligned with college and work expectations and include rigorous content and skills.
The Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers. With American students fully prepared for the future, our communities will be best positioned to compete successfully in the global economy.
No. The CCSS were not developed by the federal government. Parents, teachers, school administrators and experts from across the country together with state leaders, through their membership in the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) are leading the effort to develop a common core of state standards. Teachers have been a critical voice in the development of the standards. The National Education Association (NEA), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), and National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), among other organizations have been instrumental in bringing together teachers to provide specific, constructive feedback on the standards.
All of the Common Core State Standards are in the Colorado Academic Standards. The Common Core State Standards are the foundation for the Colorado Academic Standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics. Colorado has the option to include up to 15 percent more content standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics. The Common Core State Standards represent at least 85 percent of the Colorado Academic Standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics.
Source: Colorado Adopts Common Core
There are a number of reasons, but first and foremost, districts, schools, parents and community members now will be able to judge how students are doing in meeting world class standards in academics. Having one set of common standards will make it easier for states to evaluate student progress (between those that choose to adopt) through higher quality tests. The goal is not to have more tests, but to have smarter and better tests that help students, parents, and teachers. The common core state standards will enable participating states to work together to:
English-language arts and math were the first subjects chosen for the common core state standards because these two subjects areas establish the foundation upon which students build their skill sets in other subject areas. They are also the subjects most frequently assessed for accountability purposes.
The standards have been developed with the following criteria:
There are four strands in the English-Language Arts subject area:
Math changes and benefits
Studies of mathematics education in high-performing countries have pointed to the conclusion that the mathematics curriculum in the United States must become substantially more focused and coherent in order to improve mathematics achievement in this country. To deliver on the promise of common standards, the standards must address the problem of a curriculum that is “a mile wide and an inch deep.” These standards are a substantial answer to that challenge. Here is an example of changes from the old Colorado Model Content Standards to the new Colorado Academic Standards.
What the standards do NOT define:
Beginning in 2015, Colorado’s state assessment, TCAP, will be replaced by the national PARCC assessment, which was developed by the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, a partnership of 23 states, including Colorado.
Because the new CAS and the new PARCC test will be different from the old Colorado Model Content Standards and currently used TCAP tests, we won’t be able to directly compare the new scores with the old, and it may appear at first that scores have dropped. This is a brand-new system, however, with a new way of scoring. The first year results will establish a baseline from which to compare subsequent years going forward to show how students are doing on the new assessments.
