Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are being implemented in 45 states to establish uniform, education standards in English and math for students in grades K-12. Common Core State Standards were not mandated or developed by the U.S. Department of Education. They are the product of the collaborative efforts of teachers, parents, school administrators, experts and state leaders to improve standards of achievement for students across the country. Common Core State Standards ensure that all students have the same opportunity for academic success.
Common Core State Standards are not curriculum. They are standards for what students should know and be able to do at specific grade levels. Camden County educators decide how standards are presented and met. When using CCSS, teachers will continue to create lessons and tailor instruction to the individual needs of students in their classrooms just as they have with the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS).
Common Core State Standards (CCSS) “raised the bar” in many states by providing higher standards for achievement. A review of Common Core State Standards by the Thomas B. Ford Institute, highly regarded experts in curriculum analysis, showed these new common standards are superior to the standards already in place for 39 states with regard to math, 37 states with regard to English and 33 states in regard to math and English combined.
A significant benefit of "shared" standards is the greater potential for success for students who transfer to schools in other states or U.S. territories. This “portability” is a great benefit to students who transfer to other states due to military connections or whose parents have careers that require them to move often. Families will not have to worry that their students will be behind in meeting the standards of their new schools since the standards will be the same.
Common Core State Standards set clear, concise expectations in reading, writing, language, speaking and listening and mathematics. Teachers, parents and students are better able to communicate about student expectations and strategies for improvement when expectations that all students are expected to meet are clearly defined. Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are not a national mandate. Common Core State Standards was initiated by states to establish a common set of standards in math and English for public school students in grades K-12.
States voluntarily chose whether or not to adopt CCSS and retain full authority to implement these standards in classrooms. Forty five states, including Georgia, the District of Columbia, four territories, and the Department of Defense Activity adopted Common Core State Standards to insure there are clear, consistent standards for students regardless of their state of residence.
The federal government through the U.S. Department of Education did provide incentives through the "Race to the Top" Program for states who chose to adopt Common Core State Standards (CCSS). The adoption of CCSS played only a minor role in the "Race to the Top" program scoring process (only 8% of the individual state's score under the federal grant for Race to the Top funding). Incentives were designed to encourage states to adopt bold educational reforms, including higher performance standards but did not offer states who adopted CCSS a financial advantage over states that chose not to adopt CCSS. Common Core State Standards do not dictate which texts or resources teachers use in classrooms. Just as there is no standard curriculum mandated by CCSS, there are no mandated text books. Teachers and local review committees determine the instructional resources used in classrooms.
Parents are always welcome to share their concerns if they feel resources being used contain inappropriate content. Camden County’s local review committee will convene to reconsider the appropriateness of a resource just as they did prior to the adoption CCSS.
Common Core State Standards focus on preparing students for success in real-life settings. Solving many problems in the real world requires the ability to think outside the box. The CCSS encourage students to show their thought processes as they approach problem solving. Correct answers are rewarded but students also justify their use of different strategies to arrive at their answer.
Success in the real world also requires the ability to be an effective communicator. Standards related to speaking and listening help students develop and master these skills through the use of collaboration and the sharing of ideas in the classroom. Students gain confidence and team building skills as they work together towards classroom solutions.
Common Core State Standards also help students compete on a global stage. The CCSS are consistent with the benchmarks set for students in the U.S. and around the world. In a world where technology has bridged many geographic divides, students will have to be able to compete with their peers both in this country and globally.
You can visit the Georgia Department of Education's website at georgiastandards.org to learn about standards for each grade level and to find other helpful resources. Click here to visit.
CCRPI: College and Career Ready Performance IndexGeorgia was one of 10 states granted a waiver from the federal No Child Left Behind Act in February 2012. The state created a new accountability system called the College and Career Ready Performance Index, which rolled out on May 7, 2013. Senate Bill 289: Online Enrollment OpportunitiesPursuant to Senate Bill 289, the Camden County School System is providing notice regarding online enrollment opportunities for students. Students may enroll in online courses beginning in the 2013-2014 school year to participate in full-time or part-time instructional opportunities as provided by the Georgia Virtual School or enter into a contract with an online provider approved by the school system. Camden County Civil Rights ComplianceAs required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Camden County Board of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in admission to its programs, services, or activities, in access to them, in treatment of individuals, or in any aspect of their operations. Camden County Board of Education Career and Technical Education department does...
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Potential PreK/Kindergarten Parents: State legislators are currently considering a bill (House Bill 100) which would require a child to be age 5 by Aug. 1 for the start of the 2016-2017 school year or by June 30 for the 2017-2018 school year. If the bill is approved, the entry age and start date for PreK students may also be impacted. Registration for Camden County Schools PreK/Kindergarten will be promptly scheduled as soon as a legislative decision has been made. Registration dates will be announced on the county website, through the Camden County Schools Facebook page and in local media. While a timeline for legislative approval has not been set, it is possible a decision will be announced prior to the end of March. Please feel free to visit www.camden.k12.ga.us regularly to check for an update.
Do you have questions about the new Georgia Milestones Assessment?
Click here to view The Parent's Guide to New Tests in Georgia created by the National PTA, click here to read information from the Georgia Department of Education and click here to see sample test questions. These three resources provide lots of helpful information about the new Georgia Milestones Assessment System. If you still have questions, please feel free to contact your child's school. We are always here to help!
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