Common Core Initiative is supported by our state, our district, our schools, our Community Councils and the PTA.
Common Core State Standards Initiative
The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state-level effort with the goal to create clearer and higher common curriculum standards nationwide. The U.S. Constitution gives each state control over its public education system; therefore, it is each state’s right to determine and define what students in each grade level should know and be able to do. As a consequence, there are 50 different sets of state education standards across the United States, meaning that there are different levels of expectations and goals for student learning.
Establishing common education standards is one way we can work to address the disparity between standards to ensure that all children, regardless of geography, socioeconomic status, or life history, receive an education that values their potential.
Common standards are good for students because:
They help prepare students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in college and careers.
They help make transitions smoother for students moving to different states or districts because the learning goals remain consistent.
Clearer standards help students understand what is expected of them and allow them to engage in more self-directed learning.
Common standards are good for parents because:
They help parents understand exactly what students need to know and be able to do at each step in their education.
They help facilitate conversation between parents and teachers about how to help their children reach those education goals.
They assure parents that their children have access to the same high-quality education other students receive in other parts of the country.
Common standards are good for teachers because:
They allow for more focused professional development and promote collaboration.
They can inform the development of a curriculum that promotes deep understanding for all children.
They can give educators more time to focus on depth of understanding and richer units of study rather than focusing on “fitting everything in.”
The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a partnership between the educational community from across the country, including National PTA, and is NOT a federal program.
For more information visit: www.pta.org/3944.htm
Utah‘s Constitution places the responsibility for public education
with the non-partisan, elected Utah State Board of Education. The
State Board, in turn, appoints a State Superintendent who holds one of
only four state offices mandated by the Utah Constitution. The State
Board has the authority to adopt and direct the implementation of core
standards and curriculum.
Summer and Fall 2007
The Education Interim Committee asked the State Board to review Utah’s
mathematics standards. Specifically they wanted the standards to be
more competitive and similar to international standards and standards
such as Massachusetts or Indiana. USOE with the assistance of an
advisory panel began reviewing Utah’s mathematics standards,
instruction and pre-service teacher training. The Fordham Foundation
came out with an evaluation of state standards in Mathematics and
English Language Arts that encouraged states to re-think and
strengthen standards.
January 2008-January 2009
State Education leaders began talking informally about the advantages
of working together to upgrade Mathematics and Language Arts
Standards.
April 2009
Utah participated in the common core state standards meeting sponsored
by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and the National
Governors Association (NGA) held in Chicago, Illinois. The purpose of
the meeting was to discuss the possibility of a common core, determine
a potential process and timeline for the work, examine the tasks
needed for state adoption and come to consensus on whether the states
should proceed. After the meeting, Superintendent Harrington
discussed the issue with the USOE administrative team, the State Board
leadership, Governor Huntsman, and the governor’s deputy, Christine
Kearl. A decision was made to bring the matter to the State Board’s
attention for their consent to sign a MOU committing Utah to the
common core standard process. Adoption would only be sought after a
review of the proposed core. It was also decided that the common core
standard proposal would be presented to the LEA’s for comment and to
the Legislature at an interim committee.
May 2009
On May 1, 2009, Superintendent Harrington presented the common core
standards proposal to the State Board. After considerable discussion
the Board gave consent to sign the MOU. Governor Huntsman also signed
the MOU. The development would be for Math and English Language Arts
only.
Superintendent Harrington discussed the common core standards proposal
with the LEAs at a meeting held on May 14, 2009.The LEAs expressed
support for moving forward with common core standards.
June 2009
On June 17, 2009, the State Superintendent presented the common core
standards proposal to the Legislature’s Education Interim Committee.
No action was taken. USOE began monitoring the common core standards
development process and provided feed back to legislators as
requested.
July –December 2009
USOE held several meetings where common core standards were discussed
as a part of the agenda. Meetings included conversations with
superintendents, charter directors, curriculum directors, legislators,
PTA members, higher education representatives, and business leaders.
As a part of the State Board’s Promises to Keep Initiative, USOE
created Utah’sComprehensive Reform PIan. The plan included a process
for reviewing, adopting and implementing the common core standards and
aligned assessments. In addition, USOE continued monitoring the
common core standards development process and provided feed back as
requested.
January 2010
The State Board was briefed on progress toward developing the
standards for Mathematics and Language Arts. The State Board agreed
that revisions of the two cores and new assessments should be a part
of the Promises to Keep Initiative and long term improvement plans.
Superintendents were also briefed. USOE continued monitoring the
common core standards development process and provided feed back to
the developers.
February-May 2010
USOE continued monitoring the common core standards development
process and provided feedback as requested. The State Board was kept
informed of progress at each Board Meeting.
June 2010
On June 4, 2010, the State Board gave preliminary approval for Utah to
move ahead in accepting the common core as a framework for setting the
state's own standards and curriculum in both English language arts and
mathematics. Because the standards are a framework, not a detailed
curriculum, the Board decided that public comment during the summer
plus that received during the past year would suffice as input.
Summer 2011
USOE held several meetings where common core standards were discussed
as a part of the agenda. Meetings included conversations with
superintendents, charter directors, curriculum directors, legislators,
PTA members, higher education representatives, and business leaders.
August 2011
The core standards for Mathematics and English Language Arts were
approved during the Board's August 6, 2011 meeting.
What is being done to implement the Common Core Standards?
June-August 2010: Adopt Standards
• Prepare preliminary comparisons of current standards with new
standards
• Present to the Utah State Board of Education.
o Preliminary approval in June
o Final approval in August
September 2010-March 2011: Prepare for Implementation
• Standards Maps
• Decisions on Intervention, Advancement, ELL learners
• Develop Core Curriculum
• Course Development
• Performance Expectations
• Pathways for Graduation
• Articulation with Higher Education
• Stakeholder Group Participation in Development
• Presentations to LEAs
• Prepare Professional Development
April 2011-June 2014: Proceed with Implementation Timeline
• Professional Development (content, strategies, best practice)
• Course Implementation
• New Assessments
• New Material Resources
A link with facts:
http://www.schools.utah.gov/CURR/main/College-Career-Readiness-Standards/Common-Core-FACTS-revised-2-28.aspx
Lastly here is one more pamphlet to get Titled: "Fact vs Fiction":
http://www.schools.utah.gov/core/DOCS/coreStandardsPamphlet.aspxA Letter Regarding the Core Standards-from Deon Turley, Utah PTA Education CommissionerDear PTA friends!
When I became the Utah PTA Education Commissioner, I began to learn a lot about the work of the State Office of Education and how their work impacts local schools. I have been particularly interested in the adoption and implementation of the Common Core State Standards. When I heard about them, my first response was, "wait -- is this coming from the federal government? That isn't right. That isn't the role of the federal government!" Once I learned just where Common Core State Standards have come from, and what they will mean to students in Utah, I became a strong supporter of the standards! I am concerned now at the growing number of people who jumped to the same first conclusion that I did but instead of studying it out, they are spreading anxiety and misinformation about the standards. I have seen a lot of emails coming from individuals and groups in Alpine, Wasatch, Davis, Provo, and Nebo School Districts carrying a battle cry to disassociate with the Common Core Initiative. I have decided I need to be as active in getting factual information out as they are at circulating misinformation. If these emails have made their way to your inbox, maybe I can answer the questions they are raising. Or, if you haven't seen them yet, maybe I can immunize you from the fear and concerns. The problem is, they can throw out wild, disturbing claims in just a few words. To combat all of them takes a 3-page essay (at least for the claims I have seen thus far) and who wants to sit down and read all that?! So here is my solution: I will tell you that the standards Utah public schools have adopted, that are based on Common Core State Standards, are good and will benefit our kids. Then, if you want to read the details that address the claims of the fear-mongers, I have attached the 3-page essay (plus a summary handout). I hope you'll want to read it because then if you meet others who are concerned about the standards, you can tell them what you learned from me -- or pass the information I'm providing on to them. If you have heard things that this doesn't cover, please let me know. Maybe I need to revise the essay; maybe it needs to be 4 pages long! I would appreciate it if you helped me to send out this information. No flashing, colorful, 40-point-size fonts. Just the truth. Boring, maybe. But I hope it saves you and your friends some anxiety.
Call me, or email (deon@utahpta.org) if you have questions
.Thanks!Attached Documents: Deon Turley-Immunization.pdf
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