Better Tests, Fewer Barriers: Advances in Accessibility through PARCC and Smarter Balanced
As the title implies, this Center for American Progress publication provides an overview of the general movement toward increased accessibility for students with disabilities (SWDs) and English Language Learners (ELLs). The authors present statistics showing a substantial increase in the numbers of...
What Are Teachers' and School Leaders' Major Concerns About New K–12 State Tests?
The implementation of new consortia-based tests (Smarter Balanced and PARCC) has created concern among both educators and school leaders about increased test difficulty, score accuracy, technology, and educator readiness to prepare students for the new assessments. In this brief report, the authors...
BetterLesson
BetterLesson is an online site dedicated to providing educators with access to high-quality tools and resources that support implementation and alignment to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). The site features lessons and resources from over 130 selected Master Teachers from across the country...
Benchmarking State Implementation of College- and Career-Readiness Standards, Aligned Assessments and Related Reforms: Cross-State Findings
The Southern Regional Education Board conducted a multi-year study of how 14 states are implementing college- and career-ready standards. This report is part of a series for the "Benchmarking State Implementation of Common Core Standards" project.
State Implementation of Common Core State Standards: Timeline and Approach to Standards and Assessments
The Southern Regional Education Board is conducting a multi-year study of how 14 states are implementing the Common Core State Standards. The topic of this report (one of the six benchmarking reports on CCSS implementation progress in 14 states) is Timeline and Approach to Standards and Assessments...
Coming Together to Raise Achievement: New Assessment for the Common Core State Standards
This newly updated and final edition of Coming together to Raise Achievement provides consortia-approved summaries of the ongoing work of all the assessment consortia: comprehensive assessment (PARCC and Smarter Balanced), alternative assessment (DLM and NCSC), and English language proficiency...
Moving Beyond the Mainstream: Helping Diverse Learners Master the Common Core
This special issue of Education Week looks at the challenges that educators face in adapting the Common Core State Standards for students with disabilities, English Language Learners, and gifted students. Articles include the implementation of the CCSS by teachers and schools, collaboration between...
Coming Together to Raise Achievement: New Assessments for the Common Core State Standards
This guide focuses on the Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSSI), which formally began in June 2009 as a collaborative effort among nearly all U.S. states and territories. Forty-five states subsequently adopted the CCSS in mathematics and English language arts (ELA) and joined one of two...