Meeting of the Board of Regents | October 2009
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THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234 |
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TO: |
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FROM: |
John B. King, Jr. |
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SUBJECT: |
Status Report on Draft “Common Core State College and Career Readiness Standards for Mathematics and Standards for Reading, Writing, and Speaking and Listening” |
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DATE: |
October 13, 2009 |
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STRATEGIC GOAL: |
Goal 1 |
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AUTHORIZATION(S): |
SUMMARY
Issue for Discussion
The Board of Regents will discuss the status of the draft common core standards for ELA and mathematics.
Reason(s) for Consideration
For information.
Background Information
The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and the National Governor’s Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices have convened a State-led process to develop common core standards in English language arts and in mathematics.
In June 2009, Governor David Paterson and former Commissioner Richard Mills signed a Memorandum of Agreement along with forty nine (currently fifty-one) states and territories to participate in the national dialogue to develop these voluntary standards. The common core standards initiative is centered on creating common learning standards (what students should know and be able to do as a result of instruction) in mathematics and reading, writing and speaking and listening.
In August 2009, Interim Commissioner Huxley responded to a request from NGA/CCSSO for a review of an initial draft of the common core standards. The response provided general observations, strengths, recommendations and questions for both the ELA and mathematics standards documents.
On September 21, 2009, CCSSO and the NGA Center released the first official draft of the common core college- and career-readiness standards for “mathematics” and for “reading, writing, and speaking and listening.” A public comment period will run through October 21, 2009. The Department is conducting a review of the first official draft of common core standards to determine the extent to which they align to existing (Mathematics, 2005) and proposed (ELA) NYS learning standards and the extent to which they:
1. Are clear, rigorous and designed for all students.
2. Adequately prepare NYS high school graduates for higher education, citizenship and the workforce.
3. Provide adequate information and detail to ensure the development of prekindergarten through grade 12 instructional programs and provide the basis for valid and reliable measures of student success.
The current NYS ELA standards revision work under the Board of Regents Standards Review Initiative will continue as a parallel track with the common core standards dialogue. NGA/CCSSO anticipates a January 2010 release of the next iteration of the common core standards for both ELA and mathematics. Grade expectations are anticipated to be released at that time.
New York’s participation in these parallel tracks will bring together the research, scholarship, and expertise necessary to ensure world class standards for all New York students.