Common Core State Standards
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Instructional leaders gather
insights on qualities of effective schools
Over the past four weeks, Laura Combs, Connie Miller and Lynne
Wells have gained a great deal of insight from visiting area
districts to talk about needs and goals regarding the
characteristics of effective schools. It has been a very
valuable experience and a wonderful display of the strengths, as
well as the commonalities, each district possesses in this area.
Over the next three weeks, they hope to visit all the remaining
districts. During these difficult economic times, it makes sense
for districts to pool resources and energies, Wells said. “We
are committed to support districts as we move forward in our
regional Race to the Top,” she added.
Updates to Common Core
Learning Standards approved
On January 10th, the Board of Regents approved the New York State
P-12 Common Core Learning Standards for English Language Arts
(ELA) and Literacy, Mathematics and Pre-Kindergarten. These
standards are an extension of the Common Core State Standards
previously adopted in July 2010.
The recommended additions for ELA and literacy include
expectations for student inquiry, culture and diversity, and
literature. These concepts are embedded to strengthen and deepen
the existing common core for ELA. In mathematics, one addition
was made to kindergarten and one to first grade to strengthen
the standards. No additions were made for grades 2-12 in
mathematics.
Implementation of the Common Core Learning Standards will begin
in all schools in 2011-12. Classroom instruction is expected to be fully
aligned to the new standards by the 2012-13 school year.
Assessments that year will test achievement of the P-12 Common
Core Learning Standards for ELA & Literacy and mathematics.
Full details can be found on the NYSED website:
Approval memo for CCSS additions
NYSED's Common Core Standards Initiative page
Assessments & Use of Data
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Formative assessment
subcommittee holds its first meeting
Staff Development Coordinator Connie Miller and Data
Warehouse Managing Coordinator Jeff Baker are
co-facilitating the sub-committee for Formative Assessment
in conjunction with the Race to the Top Initiative.
The sub-committee's first meeting was held on Jan. 24, at
900 Watervliet-Shaker Road in Albany. The agenda focused on
their charge as a subcommittee: Sharing from the field,
defining “formative assessment," and reviewing the various
components of formative assessment (e.g., progress
monitoring, interval assessment, mini-summative assessment).
In addition, the sub-committee will develop a plan that
outlines the next steps toward fulfilling the committee's
charge.
The State Education Department has not announced additional
requirements or updates in this area since the last
e-newsletter. We are monitoring its communications and will
update you as soon as there is anything new. The
sub-committee will report out on their meeting at the Feb. 1
Race to the Top Meeting.
Educational Systems Quality Review
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Education Systems Review
pilot showing success at Schenectady CSD
The Education Systems Review is a self study tool for school
district staff to dig deep into how they work together to
accomplish key goals and objectives. Accountability for
implementing Race to the Top will include assessment of
whether or not planned changes are feasible. This will
require work at the “systems” level in planning and
implementing the new requirements. As this work is
performed, success is more likely if the plans reflect how
major activities fit together at the district and building
levels, identify road blocks and address the root causes of
those dilemmas.
Schenectady City Schools' building leadership teams have
piloted the ESR this year and the consensus is positive. The
teams looked at leadership in the building, infrastructure,
data use, school climate & culture, professional development
and teaching/learning categories, then developed action
plans for meaningful change.
Patricia Doyle, Principal of Zoller Elementary School had
this to say about the process:
“Each year schools have to develop a Comprehensive
Educational Plan that reflects school improvement goals and
initiatives. Previously schools had little if any guidance
and support throughout the process. This year the SCSD
partnered with the Capital Region BOCES and provided
consultants to work directly with school based improvement
teams. The consultant assisted the team with facilitated
development of the plan, the analysis of relevant data,
keeping the team to a time line and overall organization.
This support has been a wonderful and much needed addition
to the team as we work through this systematic approach in
creating, implementing and analyzing our improvement plan.
It has made the process much more meaningful and enjoyable!”
The Building Leadership Team at VanCorlaer stated:
“We reflected on our own building and the whole building
gave input. It wasn’t a directive and we owned the plan."
Principal Barbara Coffey at Woodlawn states:
“It is very hard for a team to get to the core of the issue.
In the past we have rarely met as a team. This didn’t occur
the first day but the second brought much more openness and
we got to discussion that was really needed. We are making
steady steps forward."
Schenectady staff members will share their experiences with
this process, particularly as it relates to the development
and support of School Inquiry Teams, at the next meeting of
the Race to the Top Network Team (Feb. 1). The Network Team
will explore options for each district to initiate an
Educational Systems Review in preparation of the formation
of their Inquiry Teams.
Great
Teachers & Leaders
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There are no new updates for this category at this time.
Keep checking for more updates in the future.
Other News
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National Staff Development Council
Coaches Academy training announced
Capital Region BOCES is pleased to announce a Coaching
Academy with instruction provided by coaching experts from
the National Staff Development
Council (NSDC).
Tuesday-Thursday, April 26-28
8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.,
Celtic Hall, 430 New Karner Road, Albany
Tuesday-Thursday, May 24-26
8:30 am – 3:30 pm
Capital Region BOCES,
900 Watervliet-Shaker Road, Albany
The cost is $770 per person, and includes six days of
training (including lunch), one day on-site coaching work
with a project coordinator, books and a one-year membership
to the National Staff Development Council.
Questions? Contact Connie Miller, program manager,
cmiller@gw.neric.org
or 464-3982.
For more information, read the flyer. [PDF]
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