The Missouri Learning Standards, including the Common Core State Standards, are being embedded into Ladue Schools’ already high quality and rigorous curriculum. Each standard has been evaluated and adjustments to curriculum are being made, as necessary. However, neither the Common Core, nor the Missouri Learning Standards require that completely new curriculum be adopted.
Public schools in Missouri are required to have fully implemented the Common Core State Standards in the 2014-15 school year and the Ladue Schools District will be ready. The standards 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.
In fact, for some time, the district has been working toward one of the main goals of the standards, which is to require students to demonstrate their ability to apply knowledge, not simply prove they know the facts. “The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education describes these standards as ‘clearer, fewer, deeper,’” says Superintendent Dr. Donna Jahnke. “Clear expectations, fewer subjects and deeper learning and thinking will allow the application of knowledge to become as important as the content itself.”
In addition, 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. “It requires students to think across disciplines to find answers and solve problems,” states Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Laura Brock. “This is the type of skill demonstration which will be required of students in college, as well as in their future careers.”
The Missouri Learning Standards and the Common Core State Standards also align well with Ladue Schools' focus on preparing students for post secondary education. The ACT and SAT testing entities are aligned behind the Common Core State Standards, as well. 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.” Over 90% of Ladue Schools students take the ACT.
There is one learning curve, as well as a logistical challenge, to consider for Ladue Schools students, both involving the assessment tools used to measure student success.
First, students are required to actually demonstrate their ability to manipulate data, and apply concepts. To do this, students must become comfortable with the web-based testing platform which is very different than simply “marking the correct choice,” as in the past. Preparing students at all grade levels for this new assessment process will take practice, and will be vital to ensuring results reflect actual student abilities and knowledge.
In addition, all testing at all grade levels will be done online, straining the district’s technology resources. For weeks out of the year, the district’s technology will be tied up with students testing. However, these same technology resources have become integral in instructional practices at all grade levels across the district, as teachers become more adept at leveraging their students comfort with technology to enhance learning.
District administrators and teachers will be working toward solving both of these assessment challenges over the coming months in order to have both teachers and students prepared for the full implementation of these new standards in the 2014-15 school year.