Rhode Island may be the nation's smallest state, but its schools are currently undergoing big changes thanks to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). According to the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the CCSS are expected to be in place by the 2013-2014 academic year.
For some school officials, the implementation of the Common Core also means more responsibilities. At least, this is the case with Jeff Goldthwait, former chairperson at Cranston High School East's math department and current math program supervisor for the Cranston Public Schools, the Cranston Herald reported.
Goldthwait, who has been both a student and a teacher within the Cranston Public Schools, is responsible for making sure the district makes a smooth transition to the CCSS. K-12 instructors need to realize there has been a shift in many of the topics students cover in the classroom. For instance, something that was taught to high school freshmen may now be covered in eighth grade.
"For the first month of school, I've visited every single elementary school to meet and greet [the staff]," Goldthwait told the news source. "My next goal is to observe classes, collect data and offer professional development based on what I see as a need, such as what cooperative learning looks like in a math class, for example."
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