Where am I?
District Prepares for New Academic Standards
July 11, 2012
The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) initiative is a collaborative national effort to align states across the country with a common understanding of what students need to learn in four core areas. English Language Arts and Math CCSS have been completed and approved by 46 states, including Kansas. Science and Social Studies standards are being developed. The standards include challenging content and an application of knowledge to prepare students to be college and career ready.
Kansas districts, including the Spring Hill School District, are currently preparing for full implementation by the 2013-14 school year. According to the Kansas Department of Education, "the standards provide clear goals for student learning in different subject areas and help teachers ensure their students have the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in the future."
How and when will this affect students attending district schools? The answer is that preparations for this significant change in curriculum have been underway for some time. Teachers and administrators have been actively preparing for integrating the new standards into classrooms at all levels through professional development, as well as identifying instructional materials to support the process. Some of the new standards will already be implemented this school year, and the transition will continue through the 2013-14 school year. It is important that families also have an understanding of the new expectations, and the district has dedicated a section of its web site as a resource. As the process unfolds, more information about specific changes affecting students will be communicated to parents.
Please take time to review the materials and timeline for integration of the new Common Core State Standards into district classrooms, which are located in the CCSS web site.