Here is an email I recieved from the Washington County School District today that sheds some light on Common Core issues: Dear Parents of Washington County School District Students- There are some misunderstandings regarding the Utah State Board of Education’s Core Standards (Utah Core Standards). Although similar, our Utah Core Standards differ from the Common Core State Standards that were initially adopted by 44 states. The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) have served as a political platform for some, including popular media, to create confusion, uncertainty, and in some extreme cases, fear. As such, I felt it necessary to clarify a few of the misconceptions that are being circulated. 1. The State of Utah has complete control of Utah’s learning standards in all areas of our public education curriculum. In a letter to former State Superintendent Larry Shumway and Governor Gary Herbert, United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan reaffirmed that the State of Utah has “..plete control of Utah’s learning standards in all areas of our public education curriculum.” Secretary Duncan went on to further affirm this as he concluded that, “States have the sole right to set learning standards.” (March 7, 2012) Once again, we reaffirm that Utah has not adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) but has retained it’s right to establish the Utah Core Standards. 2. The Utah State Board of Education adopts the standards but school districts, including schools, teams, and teachers, select the curriculum best suited to meet that standard. We understand the complexity of identifying the most suitable curriculum, resources, and text to meet our Utah State Standards. Teacher time is at a premium. Because of this, a great deal of time and energy is spent at the district level researching, receiving teacher input, and forming focus groups to vet the myriad of available programs and resources in order to identify those that best meet our needs in the Washington County School District. 3. The Utah Core Standards do not lower academic expectations. The standards raise the bar in Language Arts and Math, making sure ALL Utah students are prepared to compete in an ever changing global economy. Utah State Senator Howard Stephenson affirmed, “ I am convinced the Utah Core Standards in math and language arts are right for Utah students. These standards will better prepare our students for college and to be competitive in the global economy. These standards are in harmony with Utah values.” (April 2012). There is a growing majority of teachers who acknowledge that the increase in rigor, relevancy, application and collaborative problem solving required of students, as a result of the new Utah Core Standards, is helping with critical thinking skills and better preparing them for post-secondary endeavors. 4. Our commitment to the professional learning community (PLC) process provides us our best chance to meet the varied needs of our students and the standards which are established. This, above all else, is why we are passionately committed to the PLC process. Programs change, curricula changes, even our assessment systems change. These changes have become part of our current educational climate. What has not changed is the need for schools to function as true PLCs and for teachers to work in highly effective teams. Because of this, it becomes more critical than ever that we focus on working in highly effective teams that: identify those things that every student NEEDS to know, develops and frequently give common formative assessments, effectively uses data from these assessments to collaboratively identify which students need extra assistance and those who are prepared for extensions, and provide immediate and specific intervention focused on the lacking skill or concept. Please understand that we are learning together. Our school board, district office staff, schools and teacher teams are committed to fully embedding the PLC process. This IS what will drive learning in our schools and provide us with our best chance of ensuring that each and every student in the Washington County School District learn at high levels. For further information and resources regarding our Utah Core Standards, please visit washk12.org and click on the “Utah State Board of Education Core Standards” icon. Superintendent Larry Bergeson WCSD Executive Staff
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 16:47:36 +0000
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