Your Evergreen Schools
Common Core State Standards-FAQs
Photo by: Lee Emmert, HeLa High School Digital Photography teacher
education
researchers,
mathematicians
and other experts,
provided input.
As the work
progressed,
additional states
joined in. It is a
state-led initiative
and not developed
under, or as a part
of, the federal
No Child Left
Behind Act or
the Elementary
and Secondary
Education Act.
Why did almost
all the states decide students need Common Core
Standards?
Before Common Core State Standards were
created, each state had different learning standards.
In developing the standards, there was an explicit
agreement that no state would lower its current
standards, instead, it raises the bar for learning to
the highest level and benchmarks the standards with
international data. The goal is that when students
graduate, they are successfully prepared to enter
college and/or have met career readiness standards
no matter where they live in the United States.
How is the Common Core different from what’s
in place in schools today?
Common Core focuses learning in fewer
areas, and instead develops a student’s deeper
understanding of a topic and key concepts. The
standards build on each other and also allow
students to apply the skills and knowledge they
learned in previous grades and tie it to real-life
situations.
Will Evergreen Public Schools still have control
over curriculum and materials?
Yes. The way in which schools and students
achieve the Common Core Standards is up to the
local decision of each school district. Evergreen
staff is currently meeting to work out the changes
and realignment of current curriculum, as well as
identify gaps where new resources are needed to
meet the propose d standards. This also involves
making sure there is a smooth transition (especially
F
orty-six states have voluntarily developed and
adopted a new set of learning standards – the
Common Core State Standards. 2013-14 is a year
of transition, with the new standards becoming
fully implemented for English Language Arts and
Mathematics in the 2014-15 school year. As this
transition takes place in Evergreen Public Schools,
here are some of the frequently asked questions and
answers about Common Core.
“Common Core focuses
learning in fewer areas,
and instead develops
a student’s deeper
understanding of a topic
and key concepts.”
What are the Common Core State Standards?
Common Core is a set of high academic learning
standards, matching the standards of other topperforming nations – for all grades in the areas of
English language arts (writing, reading, listening
and speaking) and mathematics. It does not dictate
curriculum or mandate what is taught in each state
or school district (more on that later).
Who developed the Common Core Standards?
The work began in 2009 with a group of
governors and state school leaders from a diverse
set of states. Then, hundreds of classroom teachers,
Are you connected?
around Math placement for each student) from
elementary to middle school and middle school to
high school as the standards are implemented.
“Given the new standards,
new tests and use of
technology, it is anticipated
the results of the 2014-15
tests will show a drop in
test scores when compared
to the current scores.”
How will students be tested or assessed to see if
they meet the new Common Core Standards?
In the 2013-14 school year, the current state
tests-the Measures of Student Progress (MSP) will
be given in grades 3-8, the High School Proficiency
Exam (HSPE) and the mathematics/science End of
Course exams – will be given. The new assessment
for Common Core Standards, called the Smarter
Balance Assessment Consortium (SBAC) exams
are designed to be given online using technology
(laptop, computer or tablet). In the spring of 2015,
the SBAC will be given to all students in grades 3-8
and 11th in English language arts and mathematics.
Given the new standards, new tests and use
of technology, it is anticipated the results of the
2014-15 tests will show a drop in test scores when
compared to the current scores. Researchers say this
is to be expected until students gain proficiency with
the new standards and testing procedures, but test
scores should rise in each subsequent year.
How can I find out more about what is included
in the Common Core Standards?
Meetings will be held in April throughout the
district. Evergreen Public Schools will soon be
posting grade by grade standards in each subject on
its website (www.evergreenps.org) and there will be
specific grade level meetings for parents. There are
also a number of websites that provide additional
information about Common Core Standards:
www.pta.org
www.corestandards.org
www.readyWA.org
www.k12.wa.us
www.achieve.org/achievingcommoncore
www.smarterbalanced.org
You are invited!
Evergreen Public Schools invites
the community to get connected
C
onnecting parents, community
members and students to the district
is the goal of a new campaign -EPS
Connects. There are many different ways
to connect to Evergreen Public Schools
including: social media, on-line newsletter,
Edmodo (for parents and students) and
Family Access (for parents and students),
FlashAlert (emergency notifications),
volunteer and partnership opportunities,
school visits, special events and access to
resources and information when needed.
Evergreen Public Schools will now
publish the district newsletter Your
Evergreen Schools twice a year in printed
format, with other online or electronic
Join us for the last
Community Tour for
this school year. The
tour begins at 8:00
a.m. and ends at 1:00
p.m. Please plan to
meet the group at
the Clark County
Skills Center located
at 12200 NE 28th
Street, Vancouver, WA.
98682.
updates throughout the year.
To stay up-to-date on Evergreen
Public Schools please visit: http://
www.evergreenps.org/AboutEPS/Pages/
ParentConnections.aspx and stay connected!
SIGN UP NOW!
FOR A COMMUNITY
TOUR
Friday, April 4, 2014
(Spanish Translator
will be provided)
– Mountain View,
Wy’east, Marrion and
Skills Center. Contact
Mariana (Mary Ann)
Noakes at 360-6044029. Please sign up by
April 1, 2014 or on-line at
- www.evergreenps.org
Evergreen Public Schools | March 2014 | 3