Common Core and Essential Standards Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the Common Core? A: The Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers. Common Core Standards currently exist in English Language Arts and Math. Q: What are Essential Standards? A: Essential Standards are North Carolinas revised Standard Course of Study. New Essential Standards are in place for Science, Social Studies, Healthful Living, Information and Technology, Guidance, World Languages, Arts, English Language Development, and Occupational Course of Study. Q: When will the new standards be implemented in classrooms? A: Common Core Standards and Essential Standards in all areas except for Information and Technology will go into effect in the 2012-13 school year. Information and Technology Essential Standards are currently in effect for the 2011-12 school year. Q: When will teachers receive professional development on the new standards? A: NCCS received a waiver from the state to replace 5 student days with 5 teacher workdays in order to provide professional development for the new standards. Those dates are: October 28, February 27, March 23, June 11, and June 12. These are the only 5 professional development dates before the new standards go into effect in August 2012. Q: Is my attendance at Common Core / Essential Standards training required? A: These 5 workdays are required for all staff. Certified staff are required to attend Common Core / Essential Standards training on all 5 dates. Q: Where will the trainings take place? A: K-2: Thornton Media Center 3-5: Shuford Media Center 6-12 Math: NCMS Music Room 6-12 Social Studies: NCHSHS 6-12 Science: NCHS Science wing 6-12 English Language Arts: NCMS Media Center CTE: NCHS Foreign Language, Visual & Performing Arts: NCHS Self-Contained EC: Conover School Guidance & Media: South Newton Media Center Healthful Living: Central Office Conference Room ESL: Shuford ESL classroom

Q: Who is leading the trainings? A: K-5 ELA - Michael Lemke, Amber Humphrey K-5 Math - Brooke Simpson, Jill Hager K-5 Science - Jayme Linton, Tammy Brown K-5 Social Studies - Patrick Nelson, Julia Styers 6-12 ELA - Elizabeth Gargis, Amanda McRary 6-12 Math - Shane Whitener, Ericia Turner 6-12 Science - John Worley, Valerie Leath 6-12 Social Studies - Kim Kaylor, John Robinson ESL - Revae Bostwick Healthful Living - Sylvia White CTE - Gary Towery Guidance - Melanie Elrod Self-contained EC - Michele Jordan Media - Betsy Rosenbalm Foreign Language, Visual Arts, and Performing Arts - Kevin Campbell Q: What time will the trainings begin on those 5 dates? A: You will report directly to your training site between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. on the 5 workdays. Trainings will begin no later than 8:30. Trainings will last until at least 3:30. You will be on your own for lunch. Q: What do I need to bring to the trainings? A: You will need to bring your laptop to all 5 training dates. You will also need to bring teachers guides and other instructional resources for developing instructional guides. Q: What are the intended outcomes for the 5 training dates? A: Teachers will develop a deep understanding of the new standards and collaboratively develop instructional guides, formative assessments, and instructional technology resources. Click here to see an example of an instructional guide that was created in June 2011 by NCCS K-2 teachers during Common Core training. You will be creating similar documents during the 5 training dates. Q: What about middle school teachers who teach 2 subjects? A: For 6th-8th grade teachers who teach 2 subjects, training on one content area will be 10/28 and 2/27. Training on the second content area will be on 3/23 and 6/11. On 6/12, each teacher must select either one of their content area trainings to attend. Q: Where can I find resources to support the implementation of the new standards? A: You can find additional information about the Common Core Standards here: http://www.corestandards.org/. You can find additional information about the Essential Standards here: http://www.ncpublicschools.org/acre/standards/new-standards/. On October 28th, you will receive an invitation to join a Wiki containing resources for Common Core / Essential Standards implementation. You will also receive a shared Google Document for creating an instructional guide on October 28th.

For additional information about these upcoming changes, click here.