Higher Expectations, Higher Achievement

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Higher Expectations, Higher Achievement
Mississippis Road to Rigorous College- and
Career-Ready Standards November 4, 2013
Dr. Lynn J. House Interim State Superintendent
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• Why focus on preparing students
• for college and careers?

• Some reasons include
• To be successful in college
• To be ready for employment
• To compete for 21st century jobs with students
  from other states and countries
• To help improve job opportunities in Mississippi
  and the economy of the state and nation

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What does the global education landscape look
like?
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• International Assessments

PISA

• PIRLS

TIMSS

• Progress in International Reading Literacy Study
  (PIRLS)
• 4th-grade reading assessment

• Trends in International Mathematics and Science
  Study (TIMSS)
• 4th- and 8th- grade mathematics and science
  assessment

• Program for International Student Assessment
  (PISA)
• Assessment of 15 year-old students in three
  subject areas Reading Literacy Mathematics
  Literacy and Science Literacy

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• U.S. Ranks in Reading, Math and Science

Assessment Rank Grade/Subject
PIRLS (49 Countries) 7th 4th Grade Reading

TIMSS (63 Countries) 9th 4th Grade Math
6th 4th Grade Science
12th 8th Grade Math
11th 8th Grade Science

PISA (65 Countries) 10th Reading Literacy
24th Mathematics Literacy
19th Science Literacy
2011 PIRL and TIMSS Results 2009 PISA Results
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What does Mississippis education landscape look
like?
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• 2013 ACT Profile Report Percent of Students
  College Ready

Percentage
Subject
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• 2012 ACT Profile Report Percent Of Students
  College Ready

Percentage
Subject
(18)
(23)
(22)
(22)
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• Mississippis NAEP Performance

• 2011 NAEP Report - Reading
• 22 of MS 4th Gr. students proficient
• 32 proficient nationally
• 21 of MS 8th Gr. students proficient
• 32 proficient nationally
• 2011 NAEP Report - Math
• 25 of MS 4th Gr. students proficient
  40 proficient nationally
• 19 of MS 8th Gr. students proficient
• 34 proficient nationally
• Remedial Education as of 2012
  Appx. 25.5 million
  spent annually in MS CJCs
  Appx. 10 million at MS four-year institutions

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• Mississippis Performance On State Tests

SATP2 Percentage Proficient and Above SATP2 Percentage Proficient and Above SATP2 Percentage Proficient and Above SATP2 Percentage Proficient and Above
2012-2013 2011-2012 2010-2011
Algebra I 78.2 74.6 76.4
Biology I 63.3 58.7 55.5
English II 59.4 56.4 55.9
US History 62.3 53.3 N/A
N/A New standards and new assessment
introduced for 2011-2012 school year.
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• Mississippis Performance On State Tests

Percent Proficient and Above
Grade  MCT2 Language Arts MCT2 Language Arts MCT2 Language Arts MCT2 Mathematics MCT2 Mathematics MCT2 Mathematics
2013 2012 2011 2013 2012 2011
Grade 3 58 54 53 67 67 64
Grade 4 59 58 54 69 63 58
Grade 5 59 55 51 64 62 58
Grade 6 57 57 54 63 58 55
Grade 7 63 60 54 66 63 62
Grade 8 55 55 51 73 68 66
.
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• State Progress on NAEP

Mississippi NAEP Percent Proficient or Advanced Mississippi NAEP Percent Proficient or Advanced Mississippi NAEP Percent Proficient or Advanced Mississippi NAEP Percent Proficient or Advanced Mississippi NAEP Percent Proficient or Advanced
Grade/Subject 2011 2009 2007 2005
Fourth-Grade Math 25 22 21 19
Eighth-Grade Math 19 15 14 14
Mississippi NAEP Percent Proficient or Advanced Mississippi NAEP Percent Proficient or Advanced Mississippi NAEP Percent Proficient or Advanced Mississippi NAEP Percent Proficient or Advanced Mississippi NAEP Percent Proficient or Advanced
Grade/Subject 2011 2009 2007 2005
Fourth-Grade Reading 22 22 19 18
Eighth-Grade Reading 21 19 17 19
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• How were the Common Core
• State Standards developed?

• 2007 State education chiefs discussed
  development of common standards (CCSSO).
• 2008 Governors voted to approve a policy
  statement putting state leaders in charge of
  national effort to establish common core of
  standards (NGA).
• 2009 ED chiefs and governors launch the Common
  Core State Standards Initiative.
• 2009-2010 Standards developed by teachers and
  content experts, the National Education
  Association (NEA), American Federation of
  Teachers (AFT), National Council of Teachers of
  Mathematics (NCTM), and National Council of
  Teachers of English (NCTE), among other
  organizations .
• March 2010 Draft K-12 standards released for
  public comment (10,000 comments received).
• June 2010 ED chiefs and governors release final
  Common Core State Standards.

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44 States DC Initially Adopted the Common Core
State Standards
MT and ND subsequently adopted CCSS

• Minnesota adopted the CCSS in ELA only

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• MDE Timeline for Review
• and Adoption 2010

• March Conducted preliminary alignment study
  of draft Common Core State Standards and MS
  Frameworks
• June Received SBE approval to begin APA
  Process
• August Received SBE approval (completed APA
  Process)
• June-October Conducted in-depth alignment
  study of final Common Core State Standards
  and MS Frameworks
• The same process was followed as has been
  utilized for each revision of standards in
  Mississippi

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• Sample Public Comments from 2010

• Students could transfer among local schools and
  states and still have the basic math skills
  necessary for success. The standards are
  explained well.
• There appears to be more real world problem
  solving in the area of mathematics.
• They are rigorous and include application
  through higher order thinking skills. They will
  provide consistency across states. They will
  provide the ability to compare student
  achievement across states.
• The obvious strength is to better prepare
  students for successful careers both
• nationally and globally. It also appears that the
  core standards are closely aligned to the
  Mississippi benchmarks.

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• Concerns about Adoption of
  Common Core State Standards

• Time for training and instruction
• Some English language arts descriptions are vague
• Implementation timeline
• Interventions for struggling learners

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• Why are we raising academic standards?

• Mississippi Board of Educations vision a
  world-class educational system that gives
  students the knowledge and skills to be
  successful in college and the workforce and to be
  globally competitive.
• Our standards are good but not where we need to
  be based on national performance measures.
• It is critical to the success of our students and
  our communities because we need to attract
  high-paying jobs to Mississippi and to boost the
  states economy.
• Consistent, clear expectations of students allow
  teachers and parents to better help them reach
  goals.

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• What is the difference in
• Standards and Curriculum?

• The state sets academic standards the goals for
  what students should learn - but local school
  districts may build on these standards.
• Local school districts choose the curriculum
  what is taught and how it is taught in each
  classroom as well as resources needed for
  teaching and learning.
• Each teacher determines his/her own instructional
  strategies to help students meet the standards.

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• Common Core Endorsements

• The College Board
• National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
• Business Roundtable
• National Education Association
• ACT
• American Federation of Teachers
• Military Child Education Coalition
• International Reading Association
• Foundation for Excellence in Education
• Former U.S. Secretary Condoleezza Rice
• Former MS Governor Haley Barbour
• Other elected officials, including Tennessee
  Governor Bill Haslam, former Arkansas Governor
  Mike Huckabee, and former Florida Governor Jeb
  Bush

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Whats changing in English language arts and math
under more rigorous college and career academic
standards?
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The Common Core State Standards Initiative

• Preparation The standards are college- and
  career-ready. They will help prepare students
  with the knowledge and skills they need to
  succeed in education and training after high
  school.
• Competition The standards are internationally
  benchmarked. Common standards will help ensure
  our students are globally competitive.
• Equity Expectations are consistent for all and
  not dependent on a students zip code.
• Clarity of purpose The standards are focused,
  coherent, and clear. Clearer standards help
  students (and parents and teachers) understand
  what is expected of them.
• Collaboration opportunity The standards create a
  foundation to work collaboratively across states
  and districts, pooling resources and expertise,
  to create curricular tools, professional
  development, common assessments and other
  materials.

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Shift from Whats Taught to What Students
Need to Be Able to Do

• To succeed in 21st century college and careers,
  students
• need to be able to

5. Reflect on performance 6. Communicate 7.
Work in teams 8. Create/innovate/critique
1. Solve problems 2. Manage oneself 3. Adapt to
change 4. Analyze/conceptualize
9. Engage in learning throughout life
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MS Mathematics Frameworks vs. Common Core State
Standards
MS Mathematics Frameworks, Revised Grade
3 Identify and model representations of fractions
(halves, thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths, and
eighths.)

• Common Core State Standards
• Grade 3
• Understand a fraction 1/b as the quantity formed
  by 1 part when a whole is partitioned into b
  equal parts
•  
• Understand a fraction as a number on the number
  line represent fractions on a number line
  diagram.
•  
• Explain equivalence of fractions in special
  cases, and compare fractions by reasoning about
  their size.

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• Examples Common Core
• Mathematics Standards

• Grade 7 Standard
• Solving word problems that have a combination of
  whole numbers, fractions, and decimals (e.g., a
  lady making 25 per hour receives a 10 raise
  she will make an additional 1/10 of her salary an
  hour, or 2.50, for a new salary of 27.50)
• Grade 11 Standard
• Analyzing real-world situations using mathematics
  to understand the situation better and optimize,
  troubleshoot, or make an informed decision (e.g.,
  estimating water and food needs in a disaster
  area, or using volume formulas and graphs to find
  an optimal size for a shipping container)

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• Mississippi Grade 3 Math Problem MCT2

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• Common Core Grade 3 Math Problem

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7th Grade MS ELA Framework vs.Common Core State
Standards for ELA

• Mississippi Language Arts Framework
• Synthesize information stated in one or more
  texts with prior knowledge and experience to draw
  valid conclusions with supporting evidence
  including text-based evidence.

• Common Core State Standards
• Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of
  information presented in different media or
  formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well
  as in words in order to address a question or
  solve a problem.

• Common Core relies on different media, like video
  and technology.
• Common Core allows for students to solve a
  problem, not just answer a question.
• Common Core asks for students to use skills and
  problem solving to master the standard.

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• Examples Common Core
• English Standards

• Grade 1 Standard
• Retell stories, including key details, and
  demonstrate understanding of their central
  message or lesson.
• Grade 6 Standard
• Explain how an author develops the point of view
  of the narrator or speaker in a text.
• Grade 10 Standard
• Analyze foundational U.S. documents of historical
  and literary significance (including The
  Declaration of Independence, the Preamble to the
  Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and Lincolns
  Second Inaugural Address) for their themes,
  purposes, and rhetorical features.

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Example Texts (Exemplars)

• MS has developed it own list of examples of texts
  for CCSS English Language Arts using teacher
  input.
• These examples serve as a guide for teachers as
  they determine the difficulty (complexity) of the
  text their students read.
• Guidance for the use of the exemplars does not
  indicate that students must read this text, but
  rather student should read texts as difficult as
  the texts listed for each grade level.

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Example Texts (Exemplars)

• The example texts are NOT
• required texts,
• a complete reading list, or
• suggested reading.
• They are examples only.
• Text selection remains a local decision to be
  made by districts, schools, and teachers.

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• Mississippi Grade 7 Question MCT2

• Read the sentence below.
• Because District residents did not live in a
  state, their right to vote and elect delegates to
  the House of Representatives was looked at
  differently than were the voting rights of
  residents of the states.
• Which statement below is a correct evaluation of
  the cause of the situation described in the
  sentence above?
• Because many lawmakers wanted the nations
  capital to be located in their state, a
  compromise was made to create a capital city that
  belonged to none of the states.
• Because one hundred square miles of land was
  needed for the capital city, Maryland and
  Virginia offered George Washington a section of
  land along the Potomac River.
• Because the country had not established a capital
  city, Congress met in several different cities
  such as Philadelphia, Baltimore, and New York.
• Because the District residents were not allowed
  to vote for President, Congress passed an
  amendment to the Constitution.

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• Common Core Sample Grade 7 Question

• You have read three texts describing Amelia
  Earhart. All three include the claim that
  Earhart was a brave, courageous person. The three
  texts are
• Biography of Amelia Earhart
• Earhart's Final Resting Place Believed Found
• Amelia Earharts Life and Disappearance
• Consider the argument each author uses to
  demonstrate Earharts bravery. Write an essay
  that analyzes the strength of the arguments about
  Earharts bravery in at least two of the texts.
  Remember to use textual evidence to support your
  ideas.

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• The Process of Measuring
• Student Performance

• In Spring 2015, Mississippi will measure students
  against these standards for the first time.
• MDE anticipates testing in English Language Arts
  and Mathematics in grades 3-8, and Algebra
  I/English II in high school.
• Randomly selected schools will tryout sections of
  the new assessments in 2014.
• These are higher standards and when standards are
  raised, test results tend to be lower at first
  and then will improve.

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• What do MS educators say about the Common Core
  State Standards?

• I have found that the rigor of Common Core
  State Standards has positively impacted student
  learning in my first grade classroom. Sabrina
  Morgan, teacher, Pearl Lower Elementary, 2012
  Milken Educator
• With the implementation of Common Core,
  Mississippi schools and students will be able to
  truly be compared to schools and students across
  our nation. LaVonda Germany, Principal, Poplar
  Springs Elementary
• I am elated that for the first time our
  students can be compared on similar content
  nationally. Our students will be better prepared
  to compete in a global market because of this
  opportunity. Chad Shealy, Principal, Gary Road
  Elementary, 2013 Administrator of the Year

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• What do MS educators say about the Common Core
  State Standards?

• As educators, were finally tapping into the
  understanding that this maximizes learning and
  problem-solving abilities of children. Deia
  Sanders, master teacher and instructional coach,
  Simpson County
• (Colleges) see kids coming in with high
  school diplomas that have to take remedial
  classes to be successful in college. They should
  be prepared when they get there. George Loper,
  Principal, Center Hill High School

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• Greatest Concerns
• Around Implementation

• Technology availability
• Broadband
• Wiring
• Hardware/Software
• Funding for technology and training/materials
• Support and training for teachers and principals
• Help for students who struggle

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• Preparing Teachers and Principals for
  Implementing Higher Standards

• Ongoing training and support for educators since
  Fall 2010
• 65 Common Core grade-specific training sessions
  and webinars offered across the state 5000
  educators trained
• A K-5 intensive Boot Camp offered regionally in
  June 2013, reaching almost 500 educators
• Webinars archived in iTunes U. Webinars accessed
  more than 15,000 times since September 2012
• Other sessions offered over the last 3 years for
  superintendents, additional district
  administrators, and post-secondary faculty.
• Numerous sessions have also been offered for
  parents, civic groups, and educational
  organizations

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• How can I help my child succeed?

• Partner with your childs teacher, school and
  district, and ask for advice on how you can help
  at home.
• Visit the local school district website for
  information on resources and implementation of
  the new standards and assessments.
• Go to meetings offered in your area by PTA, the
  school, and district and visit the National PTA
  website.
• Discuss assignments with your child and help
  him/her understand what is being asked.
• Recognize that our children are going to say that
  some assignments are too hard we must
  challenge our children to work hard at the
  difficult.
• Ensure your child READS and read with your child
  ask questions about what is being read.
• Be active in your childs education. You are the
  most important teacher.

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• Summary

• Mississippi is moving to higher academic
  standards-Common Core State Standards- in
  mathematics and English language arts for grades
  K-12.
• These higher standards will benefit every
  Mississippi student because they will better
  prepare students for college and the workforce.
• All schools will teach to these higher standards
  in Fall 2014. Students will be measured against
  these standards in Spring 2015.
• Of course, high standards are not the only thing
  needed for our childrens success, but standards
  provide an important first step a clear roadmap
  for learning.

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Resources

• Visit the Mississippi College- and Career-ready
  Standards
• web pages
• http//www.mde.k12.ms.us/ms-college-career-standar
  ds
• Visit the National PTA site
• www.pta.org
• PARCC www.parcconline.org
• Common Core State Standards www.corestandards.org
  
• Conservatives for Higher Standards
• http//www.highercorestandards.org.

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Questions / Comments

• Dedicated Common Core Email commoncore_at_mde.k12.ms
  .us
• Follow us on Twitter
• _at_MissDeptEd