This is the first year that Northshore students will be assessed on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in English/language arts and math.

The CCSS have been adopted by Washington and over 40 other states as an alternative to individual state learning standards that often vary greatly from state to state. Generally recognized as more rigorous than most existing state standards, the CCSS encompass what students should know and be able to do to be college and career ready upon graduation. The CCSS also help assure that students who move from one state to another receive a more consistent education.

We have been preparing for this change in standards for the past several years. Much of our staff training has focused on the increased learning expectations of the CCSS. Recently adopted curriculum has been vetted through these new learning standards. While it will take time to fully realign instruction to these new standards, we have been on this path for some time and will continue our efforts over the coming years.

For our students, this means that they will take a different set of assessments this spring. In grades 3–8, the current reading, writing and math Measurements of Student Progress (MSP) state tests will be replaced by new English/language arts and math assessments aligned to the CCSS. For 10th-graders, the current reading and writing High School Proficiency Exams (HSPE) will be replaced by a new English/language arts assessment aligned to the CCSS. In math, the algebra and geometry end of course assessments will also be replaced by new assessments aligned to the CCSS. New English/language arts and math college and career readiness assessments will be given to 11th-graders. Students will continue to take current state science assessments in grades 5 and 8 as well as an end of course biology assessment.

These are significant changes that greatly impact our core mission of providing all students the opportunity to achieve at high levels. In a future message, I will summarize some of the major “shifts” in learning expectations represented by the Common Core State Standards. I also invite you to visit the following website to learn more about these new standards and assessments: www.k12.wa.us/CoreStandards/default.aspx.