In the 45 states that have adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), there will be a greater focus on equipping K-12 students with the knowledge and skills they will need to excel in college and throughout their careers. However, something the CCSS does not consider to be essential is cursive writing. Despite the fact that students will not […]
Archive | October, 2012
Federal designation an opportunity for change in Iowa schools
In Muscatine, Iowa, the state's decision to transition from the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) to the Iowa Assessments is being cited as one of the reasons why three institutions are considered to be "Schools in Need of Assistance" under No Child Left Behind, the Muscatine Journal reported. Muscatine High School, Central Middle School and West Middle School […]
Professional development fuels higher California Standards Tests scores
The California Department of Education recently announced that students statewide managed to improve their scores on the California STAR Testing Program for the ninth year in a row. This was true of the Vallecitos Union School District, which cites an increased focus on professional development as the reason for better scores on the California Standards Tests, The Fallbrook Village News reported. […]
Many Iowa students in need of academic assistance
In Iowa, the 2011-2012 academic year saw the introduction of the Iowa Assessments, which replaced the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS). As the Assessments were aligned with the Iowa Core standards, they proved to be more challenging than what students were used to. The Iowa Assessments, which feature questions on reading, vocabulary, social studies […]
Challenges await New York students in the new academic year
The 2012-2013 academic year is underway in New York City (NYC) and, according to Dennis Walcott, the chancellor of the city's Department of Education, it brings with it a number of challenges. "This year is going to be a year like no other year," said Walcott at a town hall at the Susan B. Anthony Academy, as quoted […]
West Virginia school district adjusts its approach to math instruction
As schools work their way toward the full implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), they are introducing new approaches to instruction, many of which provide examples of how concepts can be applied to real-life situations. For example, the CCSS will see to it that high school students learn how to think mathematically as they apply […]
Maryland school embraces the CCSS and interactive whiteboards
The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are designed to prepare K-12 students for college and the workforce. As technology plays such an important role in the daily lives of degree seekers and professionals, it should come as no surprise to see schools that have embraced the CCSS finding new ways to use technology in their classrooms. Interactive whiteboards are just one […]
Common Core to benefit military families on the move
The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are clear and consistent, which means that once they are fully implemented, K-12 students who attend schools in each of the 45 states that have adopted them will be covering material at the same pace. This will be especially helpful to students who are growing up in military families, as these […]
Rhode Island school district strives for a smooth transition to the CCSS
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 […]