Ames educators unruffled by state’s adoption of core standards
By Kathy Hanson
Staff Writer
The State Board of Education’s unanimous vote to adopt national Common Core State Standards is a hopeful sign for educators in Ames.
Mandy Ross, associate superintendent for school improvement for the Ames Community School District, said she’s hopeful the adoption of the standards means “the target has stopped moving,” in terms of developing common expectations among the school districts, and now the states, for what students should learn from kindergarten through high school.
The Iowa Department of Education calls the standards a “voluntary effort” led by various states to develop standards for knowledge, skills and goals for areas of English language arts and mathematics to help teachers locally build the best lessons and environments for their classrooms.
The State Board of Education approved the standards to be integrated with the Iowa Core, which was signed into law in 2008, and originally called a curriculum. Since then, the Iowa Core emphasis has shifted from curriculum to essential skills and concepts that kindergarten through 12th grade students must learn in literacy, mathematics, science, social studies and 21st century skills. In addition, the Iowa Core offers professional development for teachers to assist them in enhancing instruction.
The state requires all Iowa school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to implement the Iowa Core by 2014-15.
Ross said the adoption of the standards shouldn’t affect the Ames school district’s implementation plan, especially since
Mandy Ross, associate superintendent for school improvement for the Ames Community School District, said she’s hopeful the adoption of the standards means “the target has stopped moving,” in terms of developing common expectations among the school districts, and now the states, for what students should learn from kindergarten through high school.
The Iowa Department of Education calls the standards a “voluntary effort” led by various states to develop standards for knowledge, skills and goals for areas of English language arts and mathematics to help teachers locally build the best lessons and environments for their classrooms.
The State Board of Education approved the standards to be integrated with the Iowa Core, which was signed into law in 2008, and originally called a curriculum. Since then, the Iowa Core emphasis has shifted from curriculum to essential skills and concepts that kindergarten through 12th grade students must learn in literacy, mathematics, science, social studies and 21st century skills. In addition, the Iowa Core offers professional development for teachers to assist them in enhancing instruction.
The state requires all Iowa school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to implement the Iowa Core by 2014-15.
Ross said the adoption of the standards shouldn’t affect the Ames school district’s implementation plan, especially since