Focus Areas

Implementation of state standards

Implementation of State Standards means ensuring all students, including English Language Learners, have a good opportunity to learn based on California’s academic content standards in every subject area.

NEW STANDARDS HELP STUDENTS

Districts should be providing learning experiences for educators and classroom materials aligned with the state’s adopted standards for what students need to know and be able to do. This is particularly important for standards in the core subject areas of English Language Arts, Math, Science, English Language Development and History/Social Science. The standards help students develop critical thinking skills and prepare them to be civically engaged and college- and career-ready.

The state expects your district to report on its implementation of these state standards. The measures include progress in:

  • Providing professional learning for teaching the standards
  • Making available instructional materials aligned to the standards
  • Identifying areas where staff need to improve instruction.

Districts should also report their progress implementing state standards in other subject areas, including career technical education, health education, physical education, visual and performing arts, and world languages. Districts need to document their success in supporting both teachers and administrators in their professional learning.

Download and share our flier on Implementation of State Standards.

ENGLISH SPANISH

QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK ABOUT IMPLEMENTING STANDARDS

  • implementationofstandardsWhat is our school district’s progress so far in implementing the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts and Math? How are the standards changing the teaching and learning that happen in the classroom?
  • What professional learning opportunities have our teachers, administrators and support staff received in the English Language Arts and Math standards and how to use them in the classroom? Is there a plan for continuing these learning opportunities?
  • What is our district’s plan for implementing the state’s Next Generation Science Standards and History/Social Science framework?
  • How can different areas of study be integrated together to enhance learning? What role do the arts or career technical education play in the implementation of state standards and in our school and district’s curriculum?
  • How can we ensure that all students have access to the instruction they need to master the state standards? Is there specialized professional development on the standards for teachers of English Language Learners, students with special needs and other student populations?
  • What outreach efforts do we use so all parents are aware of the new state standards and assessments? How do we engage parents in efforts to implement state standards? Are we helping parents understand what will look different in their child’s classroom with the new standards and how parents can support learning in and out of school?

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT STANDARDS IMPLEMENTATION

  • “Making up a chant about the 13 colonies and then recording it was awesome! My teacher calls it ‘arts integration,’ but we told her we call it FUN.”
  • “The change to Common Core is an opportunity for professional development and new ways for students to learn.”
  • “We held a ‘Common Core Coffee Night.’ It helped parents see how Common Core brings student learning to the next level by helping them to develop their critical thinking skills and express their depth of knowledge.”

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Find out how your district is meeting this state priority.