Background & Purpose ~ Common Core State Standards

Understanding the Terminology and Various “Standards”

In January 1996, Missouri adopted the Show-Me Standards, a demanding set of content and process standards that have proved to be an excellent frame of reference for student performance in Missouri. Grade-level expectations (GLEs) were then developed to provide grade by grade targets for instruction for teachers. Those expectations have been revised regularly based on teacher feedback and new research. (Missouri’s expectations have been ranked among the top three states in the country.) As End-of-Course (EOC) assessments were developed at the high school level, course-level expectations (CLEs) were created to provide teachers with course-specific objectives.

The Missouri Learning Standards define the knowledge and skills students need in each grade level and course for success in college, other post-secondary training and careers. These grade-level and course-level expectations are aligned to the Show-Me Standards and include grade-level and course-level expectations for the following subjects:

The Missouri Learning Standards give school administrators, teachers, parents and students a roadmap for learning expectations in each grade and course.

The Common Core State Standards are a set of academic expectation in English language arts and mathematics which have been adopted by 45 states, including Missouri. They have been established in order to provide consistent learning goals for all students, regardless of where they live. They were developed by a diverse team of educators, researchers and parents from across the country (including Missouri) to be academically rigorous, attainable for students, and practical for teachers and districts.

These standards are required to be fully implemented by the 2014-15 school year. In Missouri, the Common Core State Standards are embedded in the Missouri Learning Standards which also include grade-level and course-level expectations for science, social studies, world languages, etc.

The Relationship Between Standards and Curriculum

The standards do not mandate a specific curriculum. Decisions about curriculum, instructional strategies, tools, materials and textbooks are left to local districts and schools that know their students best. In the Ladue School District, the Common Core and Missouri Learning standards are well on the way to being fully incorporated into existing curriculum, are supported by many of the instructional practices the district has already been using, and align well with the district’s already high quality and rigorous curriculum.

Application Becomes as Important as Content

The Common Core State Standards define course content that builds from one grade to the next. They include real world application requirements so students learn to demonstrate their ability to apply knowledge, not simply prove they know the facts.

For the last several years, the Ladue School District has been ramping up its offerings in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programming which reflects this learning methodology. Students must think across disciplines to find answers and solve problems which is the type of skill demonstration that will be required of them in college, and in future careers.

Alignment with College Readiness Testing

Both the ACT and SAT testing entities are aligned behind the Common Core State Standards. The ACT website states: “Because these standards are based on empirical data and reflect the shared goal of preparing students for readiness in credit-bearing college courses and in careers, ACT's Course Standards and College Readiness Standards™ successfully align with the Common Core State Standards.”

Not a Federal Mandate

The Common Core State Standards are not a product of the federal government and the federal government is not involved in its implementation. States across the country collaborated with teachers, researchers, and leading experts to design, develop and implement the standards. Between 2010 and 2012, each state independently made the decision whether or not to adopt the Common Core State Standards.

Common Core State Standards