New Guides Help School Leaders Support Common Core State Standards Implementation

Wednesday, January 9, 2013Printer-friendly version

Media Contact: Chad Colby (202) 419-1570, ccolby@achieve.org

New Guides Help School Leaders Support Common Core State Standards Implementation 

WASHINGTON - January 9, 2013 - Achieve, in partnership with College Summit, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), has released a series of action briefs on the role of school counselors, secondary school leaders, and elementary school leaders in the implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).

"The action briefs provide school leaders a deeper understanding of the CCSS and spell out the leaders' critical role in implementation. Based on feedback from school leaders who expressed a need for more guidance, the action briefs outline strategies and techniques that can be used within schools by school leaders to prepare their schools, teachers, and students for the standards and upcoming new assessments," said Achieve Director of Content and Instructional Supports, Doug Sovde.

 

"There's a lot of energy around the Common Core State Standards right now, but the hard work will be in their implementation in schools," said NASSP Executive Director JoAnn Bartoletti. "Given the cross-disciplinary nature of the standards, the success of their implementation will rely on focused, well-informed principal leadership. These guides will be essential tools as principals work with teachers and parents."

 

"The success of the CCSS depends on the leadership of building-level administrators. NAESP realizes that principals want not only opportunities to provide input into the Common Core, but that they also need assistance in planning, capacity building, and implementation. These briefs provide valuable guidance specifically for principals - the briefs address instructional shifts, the changes in school culture, literacy instruction, assessment, and professional learning that will support CCSS, providing a primer for strategic actions," said NAESP Associate Executive Director Research and Professional Development, Christine Mason.

 

The action briefs provide no-cost takeaways, talking points, and action steps that school leaders and counselors can begin to put into practice in their schools today.

 

"As educators begin to plan for CCSS implementation, school leaders have a unique opportunity to provide leadership and support in this time of transition. Everyone in school buildings will be responsible for ensuring that ALL students graduate ready for college and career," said Bryce Jacobs, Ph.D., College Summit's Director of Education. "School leaders will be able to use these briefs in planning for the instructional shifts that will have to change in order to meet these goals using strong implementation of the CCSS. These briefs are a practical guide to help school leaders meet this challenge."

 

Support for the action briefs was provided by MetLife Foundation as part of its commitment to effective teaching and school leadership to help ensure that every student leaves school both college- and career-ready.

 

"Our support for Achieve and its collaboration with leadership organizations recognizes the need to prepare more students for college access and success," said Dennis White, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation. "The new action briefs can help assure that effective implementation of the Common Core serves that goal."

 

The three released action briefs are:

All are available at no charge in the Publications section at www.achieve.org.

 

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About Achieve

 

Created in 1996 by the nation's governors and corporate leaders, Achieve is an independent, bipartisan, nonprofit education reform organization based in Washington D.C., that helps states raise academic standards and graduation requirements, improve assessments, and strengthen accountability. Achieve is leading the effort to make college and career readiness a national priority so that the transition from high school graduation to postsecondary education and careers is seamless. In 2005 Achieve launched the American Diploma Project Network. Starting with 13 original states, the Network has now grown to include 35 states educating nearly 85 percent of all U.S. public school students. Through the ADP Network, governors, state education officials, postsecondary leaders and business executives work together to improve postsecondary preparation by aligning key policies with the demands of college and careers. Achieve partnered with NGA and CCSSO on the Common Core State Standards Initiative and was selected by states to manage the PARCC assessment consortia. The PARCC consortium was awarded Race to the Top assessment funds to create next generation assessments in math and English aligned to the CCSS. Achieve is also managing a state-led process to develop K-12 Next Generation Science Standards based on the National Research Council's Framework for K-12 Science Education. For more information about the work of Achieve, visit www.achieve.org.

 

About MetLife Foundation

 

MetLife Foundation is committed to building a secure future for individuals and communities worldwide, through a focus on empowering older adults, preparing young people and building livable communities. In education, it seeks to strengthen public schools through effective teaching and collaborative leadership, and to prepare students for access to and success in higher education, particularly during the crucial first year. The Foundation's grantmaking is informed by findings from the annual MetLife Survey of the American Teacher. More information is available at www.metlife.org