Common Core Standards California

2. Where Can I Find the Adopted California Common Core Standards?

The California Common Core Standards are available on the Sacramento County Office of Education’s website at http://www.scoe.net/castandards/index.html.

3. Are the New California Common Core Standards as Rigorous as California’s Existing Standards?

Yes. The ACSC was able to add up to 15% to the CCSS for each subject. Consequently, they added information to address any perceived gaps and to ensure that the rigor of California’s existing standards would be maintained. To see California’s additions to the CCSS, visit the SCOE website at http://www.scoe.net/castandards/index.html and select “ELA Common Core State Standards adopted by SBE on 8/2/10” or ”Math Common Core State Standards adopted by SBE on 8/2/10.” The additions are indicated in bold and underlined font.

4. When Will Schools and Districts be Expected to Implement the California Common Core Standards?

All schools and districts should continue teaching the existing standards until the new California Common Core Standards system can be phased in. After the State Board of Education adopted the California Common Core Standards on August 2, 2010, the California Department of Education and the State Board of Education began developing a timeline and plan for implementing the Standards. Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jack O’Connell, stated that it would take two to four years to implement the standards. He added, “The implementation plan will address curriculum frameworks, instructional materials, assessments, and accountability measures.” Now is a good time for schools and districts to begin to familiarize themselves with the California Common Core Standards.

Frameworks and Instructional Materials

5. What is the Timeline for new Frameworks and Instructional Materials Adoptions?

In the past, California has had a cycle for revising the curriculum frameworks to incorporate new research, standards, and other appropriate information. The frameworks provide guidance about subject area content and standards implementation in the subsequent curriculum adoptions. A new schedule will be developed as the California Common Core Standards implementation plan unfolds. California’s Race to the Top application indicated that one possible schedule for framework development and curriculum adoption might be:

• Adopt new frameworks
  • Mathematics (January 2012) and English-Language Arts (January 2014)
• Adopt new instructional materials
  • Mathematics (August 2014) and English-Language Arts (August 2016)
• New instructional materials available for schools
  • Mathematics (December 2014) and English-Language Arts (December 2016)

California will be working to identify funds to support this new work.

6. What Instructional Materials Should be Used Until New Materials Aligned to the California Common Core Standards are Available?

In July 2009, the adoption of instructional materials and the development of new frameworks were suspended until the 2013-14 school year (Assembly Bill X4 2). Districts have the choice to purchase materials from the most recent adoption (2008 English language arts and 2007 mathematics), or continue using materials from the previous adoption cycle to support the academic achievement of our students.

Assessment

7. How Will the State’s Assessment System Change to Align with the California Common Core Standards?

The California Department of Education and the State Board of Education are developing a plan for implementing the California Common Core Standards that will include changes in state assessments. California is participating in a 26-state consortium: the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC). The states in this collaborative effort will develop a set of K-12, standards-based mathematics and English language arts assessments. When implemented, the assessments will provide a common method to measure and report the performance of students.

8. When Will the New Assessments be Administered?

The California Department of Education and the State Board of Education are developing the California Common Core Standards implementation plan. This plan will provide details about how the transition process will be phased in over several years. The new assessments developed by PARCC are expected to be ready for states to administer by the 2014-2015 school year. Piloting and field-testing will occur during the years that precede 2014-2015.

9. Where Can I Find Information about the PARCC Assessment Plans?

Information about the PARCC assessment consortium can be found online at: http://www.achieve.org/files/CCSS&Assessments.pdf.