LM3+Clear+Standards

1. Introduction **
 * Learning Module 3: An Introduction to Pennsylvania's SAS Clear Standards **



Fig. 1:


 * Clear High Standards **

Students depend upon you as a teacher to prepare them for successful participation in life. What is the knowledge and skills that students need to achieve at the high levels needed for success in the 21st century?

Within this unit, you will be exploring information under PDE SAS's Clear Standards tab. You will using content learned in this section for the creation of your teaching plan, which will be submitted in the final module. Specific content from this section used in your teaching plan will be identifying the PA Academic Standards, Assessment Anchors, National Science Education Standards and cross-curricular connections that you expect your students to master.

2. Goals & Objectives **
 * Directions **
 * Carefully review the goals and outcomes of this unit.
 * Read the course topic and assignment pages.

In Learning Module 3, you will be exploring information under PDE SAS's Clear Standards tab. Please click on the tab marked "Clear Standards" on [|www.pdesas.org] and read the overview to learn more about Clear Standards. Please keep in mind that you will using content learned in this section for the creation of your unit plan, which will be submitted in the final module. Specific content from this section used in your unit plan will be identifying the PA Academic Standards, Assessment Anchors, NCTM Principle and Process Standards that you expect your students to master.
 * Goals:**

Objectives:


 * **Particpants will understand the history of the standards movement**
 * **Participants will understand how standards support student achievement**
 * **Participants will identify an area of focus for their learning plan and list the PA Academic Standards and Assessment Anchors that aligns to their topic.**
 * **Participants will list the impacts that Common Core Standards will have on education.**

Topics **


 * Topic 1: The History of the Standards Movement **

With the publication of //A Nation at Risk// in 1983, the modern education standards movement began in the United States.This report, prompted by the Secretary of Education, compared the urgency of addressing the condition of K-12 elementary education in the United States with that of a virtual state of war. // A Nation and Risk // called for dramatic educational reforms, with particular emphasis placed on improving content, standards and expectation, teaching practices, time, leadership, and fiscal support for education. In 1989, President George H. Bush called a five school subjects:english, mathematics, science, history, and geography. President Clinton signed Goals 2000: Educate America Act into law. This legislation created the National Education Standards and Improvement Council (NESIC) to certify national and state content and performance standards, opportunity-to-learn standards, and state assessments.In addition, this act added two new goals to the national education goals.The first increased the number of areas for which students should demonstrate "competency over challenging subject matters" to nine content areas.The subject areas now covered include foreign languages, the arts, economics, and civics and government.
 * Content – Strengthen graduation requirements and curriculum content.
 * Standards and Expectations – Adopt more rigorous and measurable standards and higher expectations.
 * Time – Devote significantly more time to instruction, including a longer school day and school year.
 * Teaching – Improve the preparation of teachers, and make the profession more rewarding and respected.
 * Leadership and Fiscal Support – Citizens hold educators and elected officials responsible for leadership to achieve the reforms and provide fiscal support and stability that is necessary.

President Clinton signed Goals 2000: Educate America Act into law. This legislation created the National Education Standards and Improvement Council (NESIC) to certify national and state content and performance standards, opportunity-to-learn standards, and state assessments.In addition, this act added two new goals to the national education goals.The first increased the number of areas for which students should demonstrate "competency over challenging subject matters" to nine content areas.The subject areas now covered include foreign languages, the arts, economics, and civics and government.

President Clinton signed Goals 2000: Educate America Act into law. This legislation created the National Education Standards and Improvement Council (NESIC) to certify national and state content and performance standards, opportunity-to-learn standards, and state assessments.In addition, this act added two new goals to the national education goals.The first increased the number of areas for which students should demonstrate "competency over challenging subject matters" to nine content areas.The subject areas now covered include foreign languages, the arts, economics, and civics and government.

To explore more about the development of the academic standards, view the following web sites.

[]
 * Frontline: Testing our schools: **

[]
 * Regional Education Laboratory Network Mid-Continent Research for Education and Learning (MCREL): **


 * Topic 2: What are Standards and Why are Standards Important? **

To begin your journey, please review the eight section highlighted by red arrows in the //Concepts to Classroom// website. This online resource provides a general overview related to the purpose of academic standards and how the standards movement has helped align American education.

To access this material, please visit Concept to Classroom: []

Linda Darling-Hammond, professor of education at Stanford University, discusses content and performance standards in a short video.Her expertise will help to clarify the purpose of each type of standard,Please view her video at: []

Pennsylvania standards describe what students should know and be able to do and reflect the increasing complexity and sophistication that students are expected to achieve as they progress through school. The Assessment Anchors clarify the standards assessed on the PSSA and can be used by educators to help prepare their students for the PSSA. We use the metaphor of an “anchor” because we want to signal that the Assessment Anchors anchor both the state assessment system and the curriculum/instructional practices in schools.
 * Please scroll through content in this page.Linda Darling-Hammond’s discussion will be accessible on the right side of web page.
 * What are clear high standards?**

To learn more about the Pennsylvania Assessment Anchors, please review this PowerPoint created by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE): To gain an overview of the role of standards and assessment anchors in Pennsykvania, please review the PaTTAN Desk Reference related to Academic Standards.

Please review the video below to learn how to navigate through the clear standards section of SAS media type="custom" key="6329847"

Please complete the SAS Training Exercise:

Why are standards important?MCREL (2007) maintains that here appear to be three principle reasons for the development of standards:
 * Why are Standards Important? **


 * to clarify,
 * to raise expectations, and
 * to provide a common set of expectations

In summary, the PDE’s SAS system provides educators with access to clear high standards that clarify, raise expectations and provide a common vision for student learning in Pennsylvania.

**Topic 3: What is the Common Core Standards Initiative?**

The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and the National Governors Association (NGA), with participation of the overwhelming majority of states, set a goal to create standards that are “research and evidence-based, aligned with college and work expectations, include rigorous content and skills and are internationally benchmarked.” As Pennsylvania follows the development of the K-12 Common Core Standards and determines the alignment of Common Core Standards to PA Standards, this site will provide educators with information and updates on the progress of that work ([|www.pdesas.org]).

Please review the FAQ's related to the Common Core Standards. This document can be found within the Common Core section of the Clear Standards tab or by selecting the folloiwing link: []


 * 4.Assignments **

Assignments **
 * Discussions **
 * 1) Based on the content presented throughout the lesson reflect on the impact of academic standards, assessment anchors and the Common Core initiative on your practice as an educator. How do these impact your practice? What are your feelings regarding the importance of a “standards based curriculum?”Post your thoughtful reflection, minimum of 300 words, to the discussion forum for "Standards" for peer review and reaction. Please read your classmates’ discussion and respond to at least two of their posts with a minimum of 150 words.


 * Review and Selection of Pertinent Academic Standards: **

1. Think about the unit that you choose for your Final Project and the content related to that unit. Use the Clear Standards tab on SAS to identify the Standards, Assessment Anchors and Eligible Content that align to your unit plan. You should include the standards coding along with the verbal description of the standards statement. Please note that while all grades and courses have standards, some grades and/or courses may __not__ have assessment anchors and/or eligible content.

Please complete the sections of the Unit Plan Template labeled PA Standards, Assessment Anchors and Eligible Content for the content of your Final Unit Plan Project. Please note that while all grades and courses have standards, some grades and/or courses may not have assessment anchors and/or eligible content. Once these sections are completed, save the Unit Plan template to your computer, upload it to the Unit Plan folder of your ePortfolio and then upload it to the Unit Plan webpage of your website. If you need to review directions about how to upload this document, please view the video tutorial from learning module 2.


 * 5. Citations **
 * Figures **

Educational Broadcasting Corporation. (2004). //Thirteen ed online//. Retrieved on May 31, 2010 from [].
 * End Notes **

Mid-content research for education and learning.(2007).Content knowledge.Retrieved February 26, 2007, from []. The National commission on excellence in education.(1983, April).A nation at risk.Retrieved February 26, 2007, from []. Phelan, R.(2006, Spring).Overview of the standards movement.Retrieved February 26, 2007, from []. Spellings, M.(2007, January).