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California CDE Update
The California Department of Education is currently analyzing the requirements for flexibility to ESEA (NCLB) including AYP, testing, and other components of the accountability system as released by the U.S. Dept of Education. California, like many other states, has requested a waiver and the U.S. Department of Education has listed the conditions on which a waiver may be obtained. These conditions require the state to plan, adopt and implement the following (a partial list):
- a state-adopted set of California College-and-Career-Ready Expectations for All Students to be in place by the November deadline,
- revised or new accountability measures and AMOs that differentiate student sub-groups but set realistic and achievable measures of progress (for students that typically fall into the achievement gap groups, special education, EL students, etc.),
- adoption of teacher and principal evaluation systems that take into account student achievement, graduation rates, etc. ,
- implementation of curriculum intervention systems for closing gaps in student achievement, and
- a reduction of state-required reporting that is duplicative and burdensome.
CDE is reviewing the requirements and making plans on how to meet them. Although they would probably like to request a waiver from the waiver conditions, they will probably attempt to meet the requirements set forth. Most importantly, we can expect major changes to the California Accountability System in the fairly immediate future. Detailed documents can be obtained from the following websites:
California Smarter Balance Assessment System
California will replace the current state assessment system with a new program by the national Smarter Balance Assessment Consortium (SBAC) in 2014-15. A few of the details from CDE:
- The tests will be computerized but to accommodate schools that will need to schedule students on smaller numbers of available computers, the plans are to allow for a 12-week testing window.
- Optional testing (at least once or twice) during the school year for formative assessment will allow teachers to identify areas for improvement before actual testing. SBAC Formative and Interim Assessments will likely be at a cost to districts. Estimated cost projections from SBAC, as of today, are $19.00 for summative and $7.50 for formative participation per student. By April 2012 there will be revised costs.
- Student questions will be progressive. As students answer a certain number of basic questions correctly, the difficulty level will increase successively.
- Information will be available for those schools that would like to be a part of the pilot testing (2012-13) and field testing (2013-14) later this year.
- The summative high school mathematics assessment will be an integrated mathematics assessment. SBAC assessments will assess eighth grade common core mathematics standards.
- SBAC is developing assessments for grades three through eight and eleven. Whether or not California chooses to include additional assessments is a state legislative decision. This will be considered as part of STAR Reauthorization. So, stay turned on the status of a grade two test.
- The operational test and the establishment of state testing levels will be in the spring of 2015.
National Science Standards
California is now officially a part of the group of states that is working on the national Science Standards that is scheduled for completion in July 2012. The framework, on which this work is to be predicated, is available (for purchase) at http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13165
Instructional Materials
Two critical legislative bills are pending (waiting for the Governor’s signature) that will move the Frameworks-Adoptions process forward as well as establish a list of approved supplemental instructional materials to address any gaps between current adopted materials and the Common Core State Standards that schools will have the option to adopt. If AB250 is signed by the Governor (it is looking to be probable), the regular state-adopted math materials list would be available in November 2016 and the ELA materials list would be available for adoption in November 2018. If AB250 is vetoed, math would be in November 2018 and ELA would be in November 2020.
There are many publishers marketing common core materials. CLRN, the California Learning Resources Network, is currently reviewing instructional materials and online courses for alignment to the Common Core State Standards. CDE is in the process of developing a list of supplemental bridge materials. The guidance is to NOT purchase anything at this time. Wait for the list of recommended materials being created by CDE. It will be out in November.
California Curriculum & Instruction – Hot Topics and New Resources
Trinity County Projects and Events 2011-12 (see TCOE Master Calendar at www.tcoek12.org )
- Trinity Environmental Education Curriculum - Hayfork Wetland Enhancement Project (in progress)
- Trinity County Writing Project 2011-12 (teachers of grades 4-6-9 to meet December 7 and March 14)
- Trinity County Juvenile Justice Commission Meeting (October 24 at 9:45 a.m. at TC Courthouse)
- Trinity County Moot Court Hearings at the Trinity County Courthouse in Weaverville (May 21, 2012)
- Trinity County Academic Pentathlon (March 22, 2012)
- Trinity County Spelling Bee (January 30, 2012)
- Trinity County Service Learning Project Showcase (May 2012)
- Trinity County Teaching American History-Professional Development (TAH-PD) Group –(on-going - Year 3)
- APL-CORE (Accessing Professional Learning-Connecting Our Rural Educators) – Southern Trinity Year 2
Trinity COE Workshops 2011-12
- Transitional Kindergarten (spring 2012)
- Common Core State Standards Frameworks ELA and Math (spring 2012)
- After-School Workshops (January 13 and January 27; 8:30-11:45 a.m.)
- Trinity County Substitute Teacher Workshop - October 8 (9:00-12 noon)
Regional Workshops and Activities
- Region 2 Leadership Series 2011-12 (October 12, October 27, December 13, January 31, and March 7)
- Shasta-Trinity Math Partnership Grant Project – preparation for implementation in 2012-13
- Asilomar Leadership Conference by CISC/CDE (February 22-24, 2012)
- Algebra Forum and Region 2 Math Support (spring 2012)
- Region 2 STEM and Service Learning project (meeting October 3, 9:30 a.m. at the Tehama County Dept. of Education in Red Bluff)
Other Trinity County Curriculum & Instruction Activities and On-Going Projects
- School Improvement Resources and Support (in collaboration with RSDSS/CISC/CDE)
- C&I resources and materials (GATE, adopted materials, curriculum planning, standards, accountability)
- RIF
- After-School Program Support and Accountability
- CSU Chico Continuing Education Units from TCOE (C. Kidwell)
- Arts Education (Sandra Sterrenberg)
- CISC History-Social Science (C. Kidwell, State Chair)
- Shasta College Center for Community Engagement Advisory Board, K-16 Coordination Committee (C. Kidwell)
- Trinity County Court School (Teacher Handbook revision August 2011)
- Trinity County Office of Education Home School Program (Teacher Handbook revision August 2011)
- Service Learning Support
- Trinity County Representation at CISC/NERCC/CDE
More Information
- Teachers and Administrators - Sign up for Trinadmin and/or Triniteachers list-serves to get the latest information on everything you ever wanted to know about education – contact Robert Jackson at rj@tcoek12.org to sign up.
- Check out the Trinity COE website and Master Calendar at www.tcoek12.org
Contact Cricket Kidwell by phone or email (see below) for questions, more information, suggestions, or Curriculum & Instruction resources;
www.region2online.org
For More Information on Trinity COE Curriculum & Instruction
Cricket F.L. Kidwell, Ed.D.,
Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum & Instruction
Trinity County Office of Education
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