Content supplied by Alabama GRIT and the Alabama State Department of Education

TALKING POINTS ALABAMA COLLEGE AND CAREER READY STANDARDS/COMMON CORE

The Alabama State Department of Education and the Alabama State School Board have a

plan to meet that goal beginning with the implementation of Alabama’s College and

Career Ready Standards – new academic standards designed to raise student expectations

to higher levels.

It is time that Alabama has an honest, courageous conversation with itself about the state

of education in our classrooms.

Our schools are improving, but the gap between where we are and where we can be is

still very wide.

Every child in Alabama should be able to attend a school that will prepare them for life

after they graduate – whether one is starting college or a career.

We have not always kept that promise and some parents and industries are forced to

spend unnecessary amounts each year in remediation classes for Alabama graduates.

Our state standards, based on the Common Core State Standards that were adopted by a

total of 45 states and the Department of Defense, build upon the academic gains we have

already made through the successful use of programs such as the Alabama First Class

Pre-K, the Alabama Reading Initiative, and the Alabama Math, Science and Technology

Initiative.

Experts agree - the new standards are an improvement upon what we were previously

expecting our children to achieve.

Alabama parents, education leaders, the business sector, the military, and other civic

leaders have endorsed the new standards.

Alabama students and teachers have embraced the challenge of meeting the higher

expectations.

It is important that we do not stop the gains in student achievement our schools are

making. Our state must keep up the momentum and keep our schools moving forward.

Content supplied by Alabama GRIT and the Alabama State Department of Education

What is the Common Core?

The Common Core State Standards is a states-based effort to raise academic expectations and

classroom achievement nationwide. The Common Core State Standards outline what students

should be able to accomplish in math and English language arts in each grade, regardless if your

child attends a school in Montgomery, Birmingham, Atlanta or Kansas City. Although this seems

like common sense, this is something that has not always been the case. In Alabama, we created

our own standards based on the Common Core State Standards, called the Alabama College and

Career Ready Standards.

Why does the Common Core matter?

Previously, a 4th grader in Alabama was not necessarily expected to learn the same thing as a 4th

grader elsewhere. This was particularly difficult for military families whose children constantly

found themselves ahead of the class in one state, but falling behind in another when they moved

around. Not only do the Common Core State Standards and the Alabama College and Career

Ready Standards expect more of our students nationwide, it also ensures that regardless of what

zip code you live in, reading at a 4th grade level means the same thing.

Aren’t you just dumbing down what students are learning? How do we know we are not

conforming to the lowest common denominator?

No. Common Core is about helping all children soar in the classroom and in life after school. By

adopting the Alabama College and Career Ready Standards, Alabama is expecting more of our

students than rote memorization and mindless worksheets. Instead, Alabama’s College and

Career Ready Standards emphasize critical thinking and applied knowledge that a child can take

with them long after they graduate.

Who adopted the Common Core?

Forty-six states and the Department of Defense have adopted their own version of the Common

Core. In Alabama, we created our own standards based on the Common Core State Standards,

called the Alabama College and Career Ready Standards.

Content supplied by Alabama GRIT and the Alabama State Department of Education

Where did the Common Core come from?

The Common Core State Standards were developed by the National Governors Association

Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers. Alabama’s leaders

participate in both organizations.

Did Alabama surrender to Washington “think tanks” or bureaucrats its responsibility to

determine what our kids are learning and how our teachers teach in Alabama classrooms?

No. The Alabama State Board of Education retains sole authority on what standards our state

adopts; local school systems still develop their own curricula and select their own textbooks to

teach from; and individual teachers still develop their own lesson plans and syllabi. The only

difference parents and students will see is that our state now expects more out of our students to

achieve each year. They will no longer just memorize information; they will be learning for

deeper understanding and application.

What does it mean to be college and career ready?

Alabama’s standards are based on conversations our state superintendent and school board had

with officials from higher education and Alabama industries about what our schools need to do

in order to prepare all of our kids for success in their next phase in life. Every child in Alabama

deserves to attend a school that can prepare him or her for life after graduation – whether starting

college or a career. Our state has not always kept that promise, and some parents are forced to

spend unnecessary amounts repeating high school level courses in college and seeking out basic

job training classes for Alabama graduates.

I heard the federal government forced Alabama to adopt the Common Core.

No. The White House and U.S. Department of Education offered financial support for states that

voluntarily implemented college and career ready standards, such as Common Core. Alabama

has not received one penny earmarked for this purpose and our state is not participating in the

national consortium monitoring implementation of the Common Core State Standards.

So the President coerced Alabama into adopting the Common Core sight unseen and

without any input from parents, teachers or local school officials?

No. Before voluntarily adopting Alabama’s College and Career Ready Standards, the State

Board of Education held a series of public hearings across the state and abided by a publicly

mandated comment period to gather input from Alabama teachers, parents, and citizens.

Content supplied by Alabama GRIT and the Alabama State Department of Education

The State Board of Education voted to adopt the increased standards in 2010 after a thorough

review, exactly like previous standards had been adopted. The SBOE then reaffirmed its support

a year later.

Hasn’t Alabama always had “high standards?” Why is Common Core better than what

Alabama had before?

Alabama new college and career standards are much more rigorous than its previous standards.

They are designed to help ensure that students are learning the necessary knowledge and skills

needed at each grade level. This does not mean that there will not be a transition. Because

Alabama has raised the bar for what students need to learn, we’re going to see lower test scores

from students. That’s okay. This is a result of parents and teachers expecting more from students,

and that they’ve raised their expectation of what students need to know. The end result will be a

graduate that is more prepared for their next phase of life.

Weren’t Alabama students making gains in the classroom? Why should we change what

works?

Alabama schools are improving, but the gap between where we are and where we can be is still

very wide. Alabama’s College and Career Ready Standards build upon what our students are

already accomplishing due to the very successful Alabama Reading Initiative and the Alabama

Math Science and Technology Initiative, and the Alabama First Class Pre-K Program. The need

for these programs was once questioned as well, but they are now recognized among the nation’s

best and most-celebrated educational programs. Our new standards keep our schools’ momentum

moving forward.

Is it true that the Alabama Department of Education and its Plan 2020 set different

expectations for different races?

No. Alabama expects all students, regardless of their race or socio-economic background,

graduate from our schools ready for college without the need for remediation and prepared for a

career with industry-recognized credentials. We do not expect student achievement to change

overnight. Plan 2020 sets incremental goals based on current academic assessments and holds

schools accountable to put in place reforms needed to reach 100 percent proficiency among all

students.

Content supplied by Alabama GRIT and the Alabama State Department of Education

It seems to me that the only people who will benefit under Common Core are the text book

companies and test administrators.

By adopting Alabama’s College and Career Ready Standards, Alabama’s schools actually have

more choices, not less. The Common Core State Standards mean that textbook companies no

longer have to cater to large states like California and New York. Instead, Alabama can now find

textbooks better aligned with our own academic standards.

So if Common Core is such a great thing, why then are Tea Party groups, some legislators

and the National Republican Committee opposed to them?

Alabama parents, education leaders, the business sector, the military, and other civic leaders all

support the Common Core State Standards. We cannot speak to the motivations of others, but we

are motivated by a strong belief that all students should graduate from Alabama schools ready

for college and a career, and Alabama’s College and Career Ready Standards will help us do

that.

What are Alabama’s College- and Career-Ready Standards? Why Does Alabama Need Them?

Developed by a state-led coalition of education

leaders and based on the Common Core State

Standards, the Alabama College- and Career-

Ready Standards are K-12 academic standards in

mathematics and English/language arts.

They were designed by the Alabama State

Department of Education to best fit Alabama, and

adopted by the State Board of Education in 2010

to raise the standards of academic achievement

for all Alabama students.

They were not created or mandated by the

federal government.

They are aligned to the expectations of two-year

and four-year colleges, and insure practical

preparedness for entering the workforce.

They are aligned with the national ACT

assessments and are critical in preparing Alabama

students for college entry exams and Work Key

assessments.

They help ensure that students moving in or

out of our state (especially military families)

experience consistency of achievement levels

no matter where they live.

They provide a strong, consistent foundation

for local systems and teachers to develop

innovative and unique curricula, assessments

and instruction that best serve local students.

Teachers are excited about the new standards.

They have already implemented the math

standards, and are discovering they can spend

more time on deeper concepts.

Students are learning rather than just

memorizing, so they are truly gaining practical

knowledge for life. No one wants to go back to

teaching to the test.

The standards don’t tell

us what to teach – it’s

more how we teach.

We’re able to slow

down and really use

creative ways to get

students thinking

deeply and critically.

When the kids can

think through solutions

themselves, they really

understand it at a

higher level.

5th grade teacher,

Crestmont Elementary

Alabama’s College and Career Ready Standards

The Foundation for Preparing Students for Real Life

Alabama’s standards are NOT a federal intrusion – they are unique to Alabama. The State Board of Education resolved any federal government threat when it adopted the new standards in 2010, and

affirmed this authority in 2011. “The State Board of Education will continue to be the sole and exclusive entity vested

with the authority, without restriction, to adopt or revoke all academic standards…” (SBOE 2010 resolution)

Schools in every legislator’s district have already spent thousands of hours

training teachers and implementing the new standards.

Forcing a change in the standards would create confusion. Students would have

to change course – and go backward in their learning.

Teachers have not only

adapted well in the

elementary math

standards shift, but

have been excited about

them. They are

experiencing kids who

used to struggle with

math concepts

really "get it."

5th grade teacher,

Crestmont Elementary

Raising the bar and expecting more is hard work, particularly for students and teachers. New standards mean new ways of teaching and learning in classrooms, and ultimately harder tests. To stay the course with higher standards and expectations, Alabamians need to be more vocal about better-preparing students for the future.

What are Alabama’s College and Career Ready Standards / Common Core?Every student a graduate; every graduate prepared for real life

– The Alabama College and Career Ready Standards (CCRS), which are based on the Common Core State Standards, are a set of academic standards for math and English being taught in K-12 classrooms across Alabama.

– Academic standards are goals for what students should know by the end of each school year. Alabama’s standards focus on helping our students gain a deep understanding of the concepts being taught and how they apply to real life.

– Alabama’s State Board of Education has the only authority on what standards (goals) our state adopts. Local school systems still develop their own curricula (how it’s taught) and choose their own textbooks to teach from every day. Individual teachers still develop their own lesson plans.

What does this mean for my child?Real learning for real life

With the CCRS, Alabama students rely less on memorization and filling out worksheets. Instead, they focus on critical-thinking and problem-solving skills that will benefit them long after they finish their academic career.

Alabama adopted the CCRS after conversations with officials from Alabama’s colleges and employers about what our schools need to do in order to prepare all of our kids for success in their next phase in life – whether they are going on to college or starting a career.

Why was a change necessary?Setting higher and clearer goals for a successful future

Our state’s academic standards have not kept up with the changes in technology and the real-life skills students need to be successful. As a result:

– One in four students that enter Alabama high schools do not graduate.1

– 33% of Alabama graduates are required to take high school-level classes their freshman year in college to reteach concepts they were supposed to learn in K-12 schools. This percentage is higher than the national average.2

1 http://www.wsfa.com/story/22563032/alabama-department-of-education-releases-2011-2012-graduation-rate-statistics 2 http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/10/are_alabamas_high_school_gradu.html

alabamaGRIT.org

@alabamaGRIT

facebook.com/alabamaGRIT#reallearning

Alabama ParentWhat do Alabama’s College and Career Ready Standards Mean for My Child?

i am an

25+7528+3333

%

How are Alabama’s College and Career Ready Standards / Common Core Different From Previous Courses of Study?Students must do more than retain information long enough to regurgitate it on an exam

The Alabama College and Career Ready Standards (CCRS) expect more of students than previous standards, and they will help ensure students are prepared for real life. University of Alabama professor Jeremy Zelkowski, a former high-school math teacher, has extensively studied Alabama’s new math standards and says that the new standards will help make Alabama schools more competitive internationally. According to Zelkowski, Alabama’s old standards only asked students to have a basic understanding of what was being taught, while the CCRS require students to do more than just memorize material long enough for their next exam.3

What Can I do to Support My Child?

Our students are up for the challenge, but parental involvement is critical to helping a child achieve more. Things you can do at home include:

Set aside time every day when your child can concentrate on reading, writing, and math.

Ask your child questions about their schoolwork and encourage them to explain how they got to an answer. Remember that students are learning to be problem solvers and critical thinkers.

Asking questions is a great way to help them learn.

Talk to your child’s teacher and ask how you can help at home.

What Questions Should I ask my Child’s Math and English Teachers?

What do the CCRS mean for your class?

What kinds of changes can I expect to see in the types of work my child will be doing?

How have your lesson plans changed because of CCRS?

Will CCRS be used in other areas in school?

Join the effort to make CCRS success locally.

Speak-Up about how setting high expectations will help your business and community.

Visit www.alabamaGRIT.org.

Sign the “Got GRIT” pledge located at alabamaGRIT.org.

Like Alabama GRIT on Facebook and share the resources posted on that page.

Follow @AlabamaGRIT on Twitter and post tweets with #reallearning.

Tour a classroom in your community.

Talk to teachers in your community.

Organize an CCRS Informational Meeting.

Spread the Truth about what is really taking place inside Alabama classrooms.

How can I help? Learn. Connect. Advocate.

3 http://www.decaturdaily.com/news/local/article_c63e5392-28bc-11e3-9458-0019bb30f31a.html