In 2011, New York State adopted the Common Core State Standards to establish a single set of clear educational standards for pre-kindergarten through grade 12. The goal is to provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, and to make sure that all children succeed once they graduate from high school. Nationally, 45 states have adopted similar educational standards.
Public school districts are changing what they teach and how they
teach to align instruction with the Common Core Standards. During
the 2012-13 school year, Port Jervis teachers implemented the new
Common Core curriculum in English language arts (ELA)and
Students were assessed on the new standards for the first time
when they took the state ELA and math tests in the spring of
2013. State officials warned parents, school leaders and
teachers in advance to expect a dip in student scores on these
According to New York State Education Commissioner John King, “…we expect the assessment scores will decline…The number of students meeting or exceeding Common Core grade-level expectations should not be interpreted as a decline in student learning or a decline in educator performance. The results from these new assessments will give educators, parents, policymakers, and the public a more realistic picture of where students are on their path to being well-prepared for the world that awaits them after they graduate from high school.”
It’s important to remember that it will take time for schools to become accustomed to higher standards and the test scores will reflect this period of transition. In the end, students will ultimately benefit not only by learning more, but also by developing better problem-solving, critical thinking and communications skills.
The innovative teaching strategies of three Hamilton Bicentennial Elementary School teachers were highlighted in the Sept. 24, 2012 Times Herald-Record's cover story about the state's new Common Core Standards for education. If you missed the story & photos, they are archived on the Recordonline.com.