Common Core
Education news, analysis, and opinion about the Common Core State Standards, a set of academic standards for teaching English and mathematics in K-12 schools.
See also: Standards
The Common Core Explained
With all the developments and debate around common standards, here are the resources you'll need to get up to speed.
Curriculum
Opinion
Unlocking Passion in Education
Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life--shouldn't the same hold true for the learning process?
Standards & Accountability
Common Core and ELLs: New Resources From Urban Schools Group
The Council of the Great City Schools has developed a new website to help urban districts educate its staff members and parents, including non-English speakers, on the Common Core State Standards.
Assessment
Opinion
The Global Roots of the Common Core
The U.S. education system is undergoing a revival—one that returns us to our roots of tradition.
Assessment
Testing Groups Work on Accessibility for English-Learners
Experts from Smarter Balanced and PARCC share details on work going on to ensure that English-learners have full access to the common assessments being designed to measure the Common Core State Standards.
Curriculum
New Perspectives on Information Literacy
New research and book releases show teachers and librarians the research skills students need.
Standards & Accountability
Opinion
Support the Common Core - Some Resources to Get Started
Resources to help advocate for the Common Core. We must support these standards in communities all across the U.S.
Special Report
Rethinking Literacy
This special report focuses on the shifts in literacy instruction envisioned by the Common Core State Standards.
Standards & Accountability
Opinion
How Sec. Duncan Helped the Teachers Unions Take Out Tony Bennett
In Indiana, all-world superintendent Tony Bennett lost last night--53 to 47. I'd like to find an eloquent way to say it, but I'm a simple guy: Bennett is a stud. He's also a good friend, and I'm not even going to try to pretend to be objective or dispassionate here. He's smart, passionate, and relentless. And, given that folks are likely to be clamoring for his services (including the state of Florida, which is desperately seeking a new chief), it's safe to say Bennett will be just fine.
Standards & Accountability
National Teachers' Union to Host Event on Common Standards, ELLs
The American Federation of Teachers will webcast a Nov. 13 event with national experts who will focus on the needs of English-language learners in the common core era.
Standards & Accountability
Opinion
Scaling PD in a New Online World
Traditionally, professional development is heavily linked to teacher raises and/or benefits. Unfortunately, these online tools are not particularly traditional, and thusly do not as a free product yield the fruits of an established, in person (expensive) professional development provider. There is less incentive for the average teacher to test these interesting waters, and while they may not be the ultimate solution, they are undoubtedly shaping the path to true customizable, anytime PD solutions for our teachers. Doesn't it make perfect sense to give our teachers as much access to improvement as they could possibly want?
Standards & Accountability
Report: Scrap One-Size-Fits-All Approach to Teaching ELLs
The Alliance For Excellent Education makes recommendations for both classroom instruction and state-level policy to help English-learners succeed with new college- and career-ready standards.
Standards & Accountability
More Resources for Dual Language and Common Core
Last week, I wrote about a handful of efforts that have been undertaken to translate the common standards into languages other than English for dual-language programs.
Standards & Accountability
College Board Puts Spotlight on Needs of ELLs, New Kinds of Tests
Embarking on his tenure as College Board president, David Coleman puts an unusual spotlight on English-learners.