Digital Discourse / Archives for common core

July: What’s New in Common Core State Standards?

August 6, 2013 By

In Common Core states educators and administrators are moving forward with the planned 2014-2015 school year implementation, but not without difficulties.  This month’s SIIA members-only update includes reports showing progress towards implementation and some setbacks.

This month, some of the biggest news came from States shifting against the CCSS. Both Pennsylvania and Indiana had movements on the legislative front that would either delay or cancel CCSS Implementation. Indiana passed a bill that required a further study of Common Core implementation that will most likely cause an implementation delay. In Pennsylvania legislation was introduced that if passed, would require Pennsylvania to drop out of the common core within 60 days.

While there are offensives against common core in some states, others are moving forward with strong support. North Dakota selected SBAC to conduct tests within the state.  In addition to North Dakota’s move forward toward CCSS implementation, other states have signed on to participate in PARCC’s field testing of assessments in 2014. PARCC also announced its pricing structure, which has caused some concern among member states as they evaluate future assessment budgets.

SIIA members may download the latest “What’s New in Common Core?” document and see more details on what happened in July and archives of past months.  SIIA members can also review past SIIA webinars on CCSS.  Look for more updates by SIIA next month!

Lindsay HarmanLindsay Harman is Market and Policy Analyst for the SIIA Education Division.

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Filed Under: Education, Education Policy, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , ,

What’s New in Common Core Standards & Assessments? June edition

July 10, 2013 By

With all of the recent uncertainty surrounding Common Core, SIIA sees it as vital that our members are aware of the latest data and resources related to Common Core. The SIIA monthly updates from this year have been compiled into one easy to read document. This allows members to access the latest data and archives in one easy step.

June was not as busy or as controversial as May for common core, but some new developments and resources did pop up.  In response to the increased anti-common core sentiments, Secretary Duncan published an open letter indicating an increased awareness of the need for flexibility in implementation deadlines.  Pushback on the common core deadlines continued, with Michigan blocking any funds to be used for preparing or implementing common core. Other highlights from June include a new PARCC field test scheduled to begin next spring. A new report on the next generation science standards was also published. While the standards are not strictly a part of the Common Core curriculum they could have a similarly large impact on state curricula.

SIIA members can review past SIIA webinars on CCSS and view session summaries from SIIA’s Ed Tech Government Forum in Washington, DC. Look for more updates by SIIA next month!

Lindsay HarmanLindsay Harman is Market and Policy Analyst for the SIIA Education Division.

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Filed Under: Education, Education Policy, Policy, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , ,

May’s What’s New in Common Core Standards & Assessments?

June 6, 2013 By

May has been a busy month for Common Core. There appears to be increased backlash against the standards and assessments as the reality of implementation creeps closer. One could argue about the degree to which the concern is genuine or political, real or perceived. The pushback ranges from those citizens and political groups critical of a national curriculum influenced by the federal government  to educator groups concerned that resources and time are inadequate for an accountability (student, teacher and school) system based on CC-aligned assessments (including online SBAC and PARCC).  These pressures have caused several states to pause or rethink their adoption policies. It remains unclear if this is a bump in the road, or less likely, the tip of a significant retreat.  At the same time, there are also many key stakeholders standing up for Common Core and calling for states and education leaders to renew their commitment to implementation by the 2014-2015 school year.

Highlights from SIIA’s summary of happenings this month in CC include: a report on the state of common core by leading researchers; statements from key education leaders on recent Common Core debate; and perspectives from leading media sources. Other featured items include the recently released practice tests and recommendations for teachers and administrators to implement the CCSS.

With all of the recent uncertainty surrounding Common Core, SIIA sees it as vital that our members have access to the latest data and resources on CCSS. Look for more updates by SIIA in a month!

Meanwhile, SIIA members can review past SIIA webinars on CCSS, view session summaries from SIIA’s Ed Tech Government Forum in Washington, DC, and look for our upcoming (TBD) webinar on the Common Core timeline and implementation.

 

 

Lindsay HarmanLindsay Harman is Market and Policy Analyst for the SIIA Education Division.

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Filed Under: Education, Education Policies, Education Policy, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , ,

What’s new in Common Core Standards & Assessments?

February 13, 2013 By

Common Core State Standards (CCSS) continue to be a core driver of educational policies and practice, including for education technology and digital learning. As the deadline inches closer, more decisions are being made, steps taken and information made available. To help SIIA members better track the details and trends, SIIA is launching a new series of monthly reports for SIIA members on the newest and most relevant information, aggregated and summarized.

Notable releases from the SIIA January 2013 report include new system framework guidelines and accommodation policies by the two assessment consortia. Also included are studies with data supporting implementation and recommendations to both developers and school districts as they create their plans for the transition to CCSS.

The SIIA monthly series will  contain information on both the major assessment organizations, Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) and Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC), as well as on the standards definitions and implementation.  As information is released, it will be added as well, creating a one-stop resource for SIIA members working to ensure their products and services help meet education common core related needs.

Look for more updates by SIIA Education Policy in a month!

Meanwhile, SIIA members can review past SIIA webinars on CCSS, SBAC and PARCC, as well as register for SIIA’s Ed Tech Government Forum, April 9-11 in Washington, DC featuring several sessions addressing these issues.

 

Lindsay HarmanLindsay Harman is Market and Policy Analyst for the SIIA Education Division.

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Filed Under: Ed Tech Government Forum, Ed Tech Industry Summit, Education, Education Events, Education Policies, Education Policy, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , ,

U.S. Education Secretary Duncan: “technology enables us to respond as never before”

March 24, 2010 By

Amid the flurry of recent federal policy activity around education and the role of technology, SIIA’s successful 2010 Ed Tech Government Forum seems a distant memory.  A record 100 SIIA members participated in two full days of discussion with national education leaders on topics critical to the education sector. 

2010 Conference Photo Album & Session Summaries 

Among the highlights were U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s first speech focused on technology. 

The Secretary challenged SIIA member publishers and developers of technology-based educational interventions:  “As providers of educational products and services, you have a huge impact on—and share a huge stake in—the success of America’s students. So, I ask you to join the great endeavor to not just reform education but to transform it. I challenge you to put your talent and ingenuity to work to equip 21st century students with 21st century skills.”

And the Secretary laid out the opportunity:  “As research gives us new insights into how today’s students learn, and technology enables us to respond as never before, you can help lead the way in providing a model for 21st century learning.”

The Secretary spoke at a joint forum before members of SIIA and the Association of American Publishers (AAP).  SIIA and AAP issued a joint statement to “support the voluntary Common Core State Standards Initiative for education and its implementation through our members’ development of instructional, curricular, professional development, assessment and other resources, both digital and print, that align to the standards and are necessary for the teaching and learning of those Standards.”            

The Forum also featured visits to 200 Congressional offices to advocate for federal school technology with partners CoSN, ISTE and SETDA representing state and local educators and administrators. 

SIIA members can review summaries of all the conference sessions, including on Race to the Top and i3, Title I and School Improvement, the Obama College Initiatives, ESEA reauthorization, Common Core implementation, and Government OER Initiatives.

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Filed Under: Ed Tech Industry Summit, Education, Education Policy, Policy Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

“The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly”

March 17, 2010 By

In the last few weeks, federal and state officials have introduced a plethora of plans and proposals with implications for education and the role of technology that is perhaps unprecedented in scale and scope.  The latest is the “National Broadband Plan: Connecting America” released today by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in response to a Congressional request in the Recovery Act a year ago.  The others: the National Education Technology Plan, titled “Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology” released two weeks ago,  the Obama Administration’s ESEA “blueprint for reform” and the NGA-CCSSO Common Core standards, not to mention the final Investing in Innovation (i3) rules.  The timing is largely coincidental.  The question: What does it all mean?

A few observations specific to education technology and SIIA members:

-The Obama Administration (including the independent FCC) seems to view technology as an important means to educating our students to maintain our global competitiveness.

- The Obama Administration is proposing a new federal policy path to realizing that goal, proposing to increase the E-Rate, eliminate targeted DoED funding through the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) program, infuse technology in other ESEA programs, and look to “supply-side solutions” such as investment in open educational resources (OER) and interoperability as well as potentially far-reaching regulation around copyright, technology standards, etc.

- It is unclear whether the Obama Administration’s vision for transforming education through technology is a priority or sufficiently backed by “demand-side” targeted federal policies and investments (i.e., those directly supporting educational agencies and teachers around technology) needed to help lead the nation’s education system in this new direction.

- It is less clear how the U.S. Congress, not to mention education leaders, will react in that their actions are largely need to legislate and enact these policies and recommendations.  For example, “Many of the FCC’s proposals are short on details, and lawmakers and the agency can accept or reject any number of the ideas.”  [Read more...]

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Filed Under: Ed Tech Industry Summit, Education, Education Policy, Policy Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

SIIA and AAP Issue Joint Statement to Support Implementation of the Voluntary Common Core State Standards for Education

March 10, 2010 By

The National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) today released  the much anticipated, first official public draft of the K-12 standards as part of the Common Core State Standards Initiative.  The standards in (1) English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies & Science and (2) Mathematics are expected to be finalized in early Spring.  Initial reviews, as expected, are a mix of praise and skepticism.  SIIA notes the inclusion in the standars of student digital/media literacy, use of technology to enhance writing, and use of technology to visualize and represent mathematical concepts as important ways the standards reflect 21st century learning, knowledge and skills. 

At last week at SIIA’s Ed Tech Government Forum, representatives from CCSSO, Achieve and the Council of Great City Schools presented to more than 150 publishers and developers about the Common Core timeline and impact on curriculum, assessment and publishers.  They noted the key role played by publishers and developers, as well as the extended timeline and investment that will be needed to transition to the new standards. 

SIIA, along with session co-host the Association of American Publishers, took that opportunity to release a joint statement to support implementation of the Common Core state standards:

“The Association of American Publishers (AAP) and the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) support the voluntary Common Core State Standards Initiative for education and its implementation through our members’ development of instructional, curricular, professional development, assessment and other resources, both digital and print, that align to the standards and are necessary for the teaching and learning of those Standards.  AAP, SIIA and our member publishers and developers look forward to the final approval and adoption of a set of Common Core Standards that ensure students gain the knowledge and skills necessary for their success in the 21st century. We expect the commonality of standards will reduce some burdens on our education system, resulting in enhanced opportunity for curriculum innovation and personalized learning to ensure all students are college and career ready.”

In so doing, SIIA and AAP affirmed that we and our member publishers and developers look forward to continued work with education agencies and other stakeholders to provide instructional resources aligned to state standards.  AAP and SIIA members collectively develop and publish a large majority of textbooks, software, online content, assessments and other primary and supplemental materials and related professional development used by educators and students in virtually all states and school districts across the country.

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