Curriculum Alignment to the Core Curriculum Content Standards

When I received this topic, I expected it to be relatively easy with me explaining how the individual schools create a curriculum based on the NJCCCS and that is tested by the NJASK and is then reassessed later when the scores return. I was very wrong. Much has changed in the past 35 days, and much more will change as the new Common Core Standards Initiative is rolled out.
What is the Common Core Standards Initiative? you ask. Great Question! I didn’t know either. In June of 2009, 49 states and the District of Columbia voluntarily got together and decided that the U.S was doing a really bad job of competing internationally with our graduating high school seniors and all the students younger than them. So the states, led by the National Governor’s Association (NGO) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), looked at what colleges were saying about what they expected and needed their incoming freshmen to know to compete in this increasingly competitive global world.
There were many items to discuss, and they mostly fell into two categories: math and language arts. Much discussion was held, and many leaders felt that the states can no longer be competitive with the states next door or try to catch up to New Jersey and Massachusetts, but that we need to compete as a country against the other countries in the world. When the committee, made up of elementary through college teachers, governors, politicians, and administrators, met, they really all seemed to agree on the basics needed in these subject areas and the need to really collaborate and create a framework on what an American child should know. http://www.corestandards.org/voices-of-support/?state=Michigan

From the corestandards.org webiste:
These standards define the knowledge and skills students should have within their K-12 education careers so that they will graduate high school able to succeed in entry-level, credit-bearing academic college courses and in workforce training programs. The standards:
Are aligned with college and work expectations;
Are clear, understandable and consistent;
Include rigorous content and application of knowledge through high-order skills;
Build upon strengths and lessons of current state standards;
Are informed by other top performing countries, so that all students are prepared to succeed in our global economy and society; and
Are evidence-based.


When I looked at the New Jersey Department of Education website, under the standards for both language arts and math, the site stated, “available upon release of the common core standards.” So until they are released and ratified by each state, the standards from prior to 2009 are still in effect, or so it seems to be.
So again, what is curriculum? I could easily do a 20 page paper on the theories and philosophies on curriculum and its definition. Paul Lingenfelter, the president of the SHEEO in Colorado, stated that the “standards are not a substitute for a solid, broad, and balanced curriculum.” For ease, I will state it this way: The standards are the what needs to be taught, and the curriculum is how they will be taught. The individual schools and school districts can and will still be able to create their own curriculum to meet the standards. The decision on what texts to use or what what series to read will rely on the districts, and the teachers should still have some say on individualizing the curriculum for individual students to make sure they reach the lofty goals set forth in this upcoming document. It will be very important, if not crucial, for districts to align their curriculum to the standards because the federal government, while not a part of this initiative, will be awarding funding to schools that are aligning and making gains in their scores.
Does this affect us? On June 2, 2010, the Common Core Standards were launched, and will become adopted when the individual states adopt it. New Jersey is on board, or at least it was under Gov. Corzine. I would assume that Gov. Christie would be for this as well since it can help to have districts share resources and cut costs. But what about local independence? That again falls under the curriculum segment, not the standards segment.

Another positive of this, as stated by the Delaware State Secretary of Education, is that is will ease the transition of students from one district to another or one state to another as all schools will soon be aligned in teaching the same standards in each school nationwide. This will reduce disruptions and “catch-up” time. http://www.corestandards.org/voices-of-support/watch/8?


http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.6c9a8a9ebc6ae07eee28aca9501010a0/?vgnextoid=263a584a61c91210VgnVCM1000005e00100aRCRD
http://www.corestandards.org/
http://www.nj.gov/education/news/2009/0601core.htm