The New Colorado Academic Standards

• Important Design Features o Written with “the end in mind” by defining a prepared

graduate (P-16 principles)

o Articulated by grade levels, not grade bands (High school Science & Social Studies by standard)

o Integrated 21st Century and Postsecondary Workforce Readiness Skills (PWR)

The New Colorado Academic Standards

• Important Design Featureso Written to be fewer, clearer, and highero Concepts, not facts, written for mastery

(Districts must identify introduction and maintenance of concepts)

o Common Core Standards for Math and Language Arts

21st Century Skills Defined

• Colorado 21st Century Skillso Critical Thinking and Reasoningo Information Literacyo Collaborationo Self-Directiono Invention

• These skills are defined within each content area

New Standards & Assessments

• New Colorado Academic Standards outline the new state assessment

• No subsequent Assessment Frameworks document No “dueling” documents that create confusion

• More clarity on what will be assessed – not as ambiguous (State & District)

• Framework for new state assessments• Intentional integration of personal financial

literacy (PFL)• Grade Level Expectations clearly articulated

PreK-8 and Grades 9-12

Benchmarking for Rigor

• Singapore National Curriculum• Massachusetts Curriculum Framework• Virginia Standards of Learning• Finland – National Core Curriculum• WestEd Colorado Model Content

Standards Review• Building Blocks to the Colorado K-12

Content Standards

What Did You Hear?• With an elbow partner,

o What stood out from the key design features of the new Colorado Academic Standards for your content area?

o What excites new about these new standards and makes you want to learn more?

o What is one question you have at this time?

Learning the New Language• Template for new Colorado Academic

Standards will be consistent through all 13 content areas

• Learn the New Structureo Prepared Graduate Competencieso Standardso PreK-8 & High School Grade Level

Expectationso Evidence Outcomes geared toward

mastery

Learning the New Language• Prepared Graduate Competencies

o This is “the end in mind” with respect to students entering the “13th grade”

o What broad concepts should students understand after leaving our PreK-12 system?

• Standardso These are “buckets” organizing big ideas by

content areao Consistent PreK-12 per content area

Learning the New Language• Grade Level Expectations

o PreK-8 & High School o These represent distinct concepts and skills a

student should know, developmentally appropriate for each grade level

Learning the New Language• Evidence Outcomes

o for students to make meaning of the knowledge and prove how they know it

o intended to engage the student and help them find relevance in the study (21st Century Skills)

o framework for new state assessments

Learning the New LanguagePrepared Graduate Competencies

Standards

PreK – 8Grade Level Expectations

EvidenceOutcomes

High School Expectations

EvidenceOutcomes

21st CenturySkills &

ReadinessCompetencies

21st CenturySkills &

ReadinessCompetencies

The Standards TemplateStandard Prepared Graduate

Competencies (that apply)

Grade Level Expectation

Evidence Outcomes

21st Century Skills & Readiness Competencies

Dig into the Standards

 • Take a look at the standards  

o What do you notice? o What is new to you? o What is different to you? o What questions do you have?

 • Record answers to these questions on

your 4-corner handout.

Top 5 Priorities Identified During the CADI Roll Out

1. Develop and Implement a systemic organization which clearly identifies the structures and processes for our work. Hold us accountable for RESULTS.

2. Synthesize a viable Standards-Based curriculum. Develop accountability procedures for every teacher, principal, administrator and instructional classified staff member, which are frequent, documented, and assessed by STUDENT RESULTS.

3. Provide Professional Development that brings clarity to staff; provides follow-up to monitor and support staff growth in skill implementation, and which is assessed for effectiveness by STUDENT RESULTS.

4. Assure that building administrators and instructional staff become highly skilled in use of data to adjust their practices. Evaluate success by STUDENT RESULTS.

5. Embed collaboration across the district as our critical tool for doing business, and renewing our cycles of forward motion.

Visionary Thinking• #1 Way to Raise Student Achievement:

Develop and implement with fidelity and accountability a guaranteed and viable curriculum that is standards-based. ~Robert Marzano

• A Vision for St. Vrain:“A place where your education does not depend on your zip code or the master schedule.”

~Don Haddad, Superintendent

Organizational Effectiveness

“Move from being a district of schools to a school district. Analyze the impact of having multiple sites, each making decisions independent of each other versus the coordination of common goals and efforts.”

• This will support– Closing achievement gaps– Improving graduation rates– Readiness for the next level of schooling

Resources

• Unit Plans• Year-At-A-Glance• Curriculum Maps

Unit Plans

A series of learning experiences based on Evidence Outcomes and related 21st Century Skills for a topical, skills-based, or thematic focus

Unit PlansUnit Plans• Unit Plans are intentionally aligned to the

new Colorado Academic Standards

• Elements– Appropriate standards/content– Ordering of units– Timing of units (estimated)– Vocabulary– Assessment resources– Instructional materials

Common Core endnotes will appear here at the end of the document

Year-At-A-Glance

• Vertically and Horizontally Aligned Evidence Outcomes by Trimester/Semester

Curriculum Maps

• Scope, sequence, and pacing of curricular units for each content area and grade level

CAS & CSAP Transition• Spring 2011 CSAP as usual (“old standards”)

• Spring 2012 CSAP transition test begins using new Colorado Academic Standards (CAS) using current test items which align to the new standards

• Spring 2013 CSAP transition test plus pilot of the new test

• Spring 2014 New Colorado assessment (plus personal financial literacy and social studies)

Worst Fears, Best HopesScenario: Imagine a situation in which every teacher, administrator, student, and parent had access to a guaranteed curriculum  that gives clear guidance  regarding the content  to be addressed in specific courses or at specific grade levels. 

How would this change your classroom environment? Please complete the following worksheet expressing both your best hopes and worst fears.

Worst Fears Best Hopes

Round-Robin Reflection

• At your table share out in round-robin fashion your ideas and activities for the new standards/curriculum project

Questions for Staff• What is a guaranteed and viable curriculum? • How will it help your teaching and our student

achievement? • Where can you find copies of the new

Colorado Academic Standards?• How will this change your current practice?