Archive | News and Information

Missouri school district to offer free, full-day kindergarten

This past October, the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education's Office of College and Career Readiness issued an administrative memo to the state's school districts regarding the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). The purpose of this letter was to remind superintendents and principals that they should be working toward curricular changes within the next […]

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Report finds lower cost for the implementation of the CCSS in Kansas

Despite the fact that the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are designed to better prepare K-12 learners for college and the workforce, there are education officials who have concerns over the cost of implementing such drastic changes to instruction. However, educators in Kansas may be pleased to learn that the cost of transitioning to the CCSS is expected to […]

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Schools find ways to improve ITBS scores

In terms of standardized assessments, the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) are rather important. The ITBS, which assesses students' abilities in vocabulary, reading comprehension, mathematics, social studies, science and other academic areas, helps educators understand how well test takers are performing in the classroom. Beyond informing instruction and curricular decisions, students' performance on the ITBS also plays a role […]

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Students perform well under new Standards

  Ashe County Schools students, as well as their parents and teachers, have reason to celebrate, as they performed well under the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). The Jefferson Post reported that four schools within the Ashe County district recently achieved "Distinction" status on the North Carolina School Report Card for the 2011-2012 academic year, which followed […]

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Under the Common Core, full-day kindergarten may be necessary

Attending half-day kindergarten is fine for children, so long as they are receiving a level of instruction that will prepare them for first grade and beyond. Unfortunately, in states that have adopted the Common Core Standards (CCSS), it appears as though only half a day of kindergarten instruction may not be enough. This is what officials within […]

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Cursive instruction becoming less important to Kansas educators

In an increasingly technological world, many educators are conflicted when it comes to teaching cursive writing. This is especially true of instructors in states that have adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), as cursive instruction is not required under them. Kansas is among the states that have embraced the CCSS. Based on the results of […]

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Illinois schools transition to Common Core State Standards

While classrooms throughout Illinois have followed their own set of state learning standards for many years, the Prairie State is currently in the process of incorporating the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), according to the Illinois State Board of Education. The goal is for the CCSS-infused Illinois State Learning Standards to be in place by the 2014-2015 […]

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Common Core conference aims to attract educators this January

As school districts continue to implement the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), there is no shortage of professional development opportunities for educators nationwide. One organization that is making sure instructors are ready to teach according to the CCSS is The Common Core Institute, which specializes in research, training and consulting related to the implementation of the Standards. From January 31 through […]

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