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Common Core and Transition: Boon or Bust

Common Core and Transition: Boon or Bust. Who is Here?. Family members Transition facilitators Classroom teachers Administrators State Ed agency staff Other agency staff Higher ED Others. The Background….

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Common Core and Transition: Boon or Bust

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  1. Common Core and Transition: Boon or Bust

  2. Who is Here? • Family members • Transition facilitators • Classroom teachers • Administrators • State Ed agency staff • Other agency staff • Higher ED • Others

  3. The Background…. While the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (2001) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (2004) have been calling for States to provide students with disabilities access to the general curriculum for the last decade, the recent adoption of the Common Core State Standards has increased focus on improving reading, writing, and math skills of all students including those with disabilities (Common Core State Standards Initiative, 2010). 

  4. Your insights… • The push for higher standards and more academic rigor has been driven by the reality of the workplace. • Fewer lower skilled jobs are available and they often do not pay a career wage with benefits. • IDEA is charged to help students ‘command their future’. • Should we focus on higher academic achievement to increase opportunities? • If we should…what does this imply for transition across the years?

  5. One Perspective • As a result, it is possible instruction focused on teaching employment,  independent living skills, or self-determination skills may be eliminated or deemphasized in favor of academic standards-based instruction, despite students’ functional needs (Ayres, Douglas, Lowrey, & Sievers, 2011; Bouck, 2009)

  6. Your insights… • The Common Core demands fewer but higher standards. • The Common Core does not prescribe how concepts should be taught. • New technologies and expanded ideas about instruction may provide new opportunities • Must there be a forced choice between academic, and career/life skill instruction? • How could a look at transition from elementary forward help a forced choice at the secondary level.

  7. One Idea…. •  Although teaching both academic and transition skills may seem contrary to each other, there have been suggestions made on how to best individualize education so students are afforded a wide range of instructional opportunities (Basset & Kochhar-Bryant, 2006).  • One way to solve the struggle between academic and transition-focused instruction may be to deliver them simultaneously (Basset & Kochhar-Bryant, 2006; Blalock, et al., 2003). 

  8. EnVISION: A Curriculum Project Addressing the Common Core and Transition Researcher: Margo Izzo – Ohio State Status: In development/revision based on expert review Goal: Develop a ELA Curriculum that meets the content and rigor of the common core while developing transition competencies Core ideas: • Develop reading, writing and speaking skills outlined in the common core through focused content in self-determination and career awareness • Develop technology skills while conducting career exploration Ongoing work: • Providing all the ELA content required to meet standards • Incorporating EnVision with other ELA options available to meet the Common Core

  9. VA: Higher Standards Inside or Outside the Common Core • Start with the End in Mind • All children deserve an education that allows them the opportunity to live, learn, work and participate in the community they choose. • For educators…this means addressing • Rigor • Accountability

  10. VA • Not a Common Core State • High Standards called • Standards of Learning (SOL) • At or above Common Core • Robust Assessment Program • End of course Assessments • Standards Based IEP • Students earn standard credits and verified credits

  11. VA: College and Career ReadyDiplomas • Advanced Studies Diploma • Standard • Recently folded the Modified Standard Diploma into the Standard diploma and created pathways for SWD to earn standard diploma – competencies • Academic and Career Plans for all beginning in middle school

  12. Concluding Thoughts and Your Insights… • Transition is about the ‘next environment’. • For students with disabilities, the next environment is post-secondary, employment and community. • Given our insights on the Common Core and Transition… • What is at stake in the next environment if we fail to prepare students for academic success? • What is at stake in the next environment if we fail to prepare students for career/life success? • Is it unrealistic for students with disabilities to master these standards..or is it critically important to success post –school?

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