News from EdGate Correlation Services

The EdGate Observer

CONNECTING PUBLISHERS AND EDUCATORS TO WHAT WORKS

May 2011

In This Issue

Hot Topic

EdGate Services

Burning Question

Client Solution

Hot Topic

Common Core Assessments Prove Challenging

There is a huge amount of pressure, an aggressive timeline, budget restrictions, and challenges surrounding the development of assessments for common core academic subjects. The two consortia, SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium, or SBAC and Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, or PARCC will be developing these new assessments. Both groups received Race to the Top grant money to facilitate research and development.

Computer-based tests for each tested grade level and subject must address the needs of all students in each applicable state. Both groups are also developing the optional benchmark test that helps teachers track and adjust teaching strategies based on an individual's performance.

One of the main goals is to change the way students (and teachers) are assessed, tracked and held accountable. Considering the amount of work involved, the implementation date of 2014 is proving to be a challenge. Education Week quoted Scott Norton, Louisiana's assistant state superintendent for student and school performance, who said states must be careful to get the tests right in the first shot. While jointly developing tests was intended to save states money, the grants do not include money for administering the new assessments long-term, and it will be harder to make adjustments to the tests once they are completed because so many states will need to sign off on changes.

For more information, visit http://www.k12.wa.us/SMARTER/default.aspx

About Us

Founded in 1997, EdGate Correlation Services (EdGate) is a leader in the field of alignment solutions for educational companies around the world.

The EdGate Standards Repository is the most comprehensive collection of national and international educational standards containing 1.8 million most recently adopted standards in all subject areas.

Through the power of our technology and the professional experience of our subject-area specialists, EdGate provides more than 150 educational publishing clients with accurate and continually updated correlations, on-demand correlation reporting capabilities, and effective website integration options.

EdGate can also provide standards licensing, customized taxonomy solutions, correlation to assessment standards, and more.

Welcome to The EdGate Observer!

Greetings everyone,

In this month's newsletter, we focus on the most recent concerns surrounding Common Core Assessments (Hot Topic), How Will Grants Shape Our Curriculum? (Burning Question), Florida Department of Education Course Descriptions (Client Solutions), and following up with new additions to the EdGate Standards Repository (Standards Update).

As always, EdGate is your source for staying abreast of any new developments in education and specifically the impact of educational standards.

Regards,

Sandra Schugren, EdGate General Manager

EdGate Services Virginia_Flag

Virginia DOE Partners with EdGate

We are proud to announce that EdGate was recently selected by the Virginia Department of Education to conduct a thorough review and refinement of courses correlated to the Virginia Standards of Learning. Our reputation for fast, accurate, and cost effective alignments was key in making their selection, as well as our superior customer service and devotion to doing what it takes to get the job done.

If you would like information on how EdGate can provide you with the same quality of service and alignments, please visit our website at http://correlation.edgate.com/ or contact one of our sales associates and they will be happy to discuss the services right for you!

Leslie Kolber: (847) 559-9929 - lkolber@edgate.com

Tracy Olstad: (253) 853-7133 - tolstad@edgate.com

Burning Question Burning_Question

How Will Grants Shape Our Curriculum?

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has announced it will be investing $20 million to bring new Common Core standards into the classroom using game-based learning, social-networking and other approaches. Last November Florida Virtual School was awarded a two million dollar grant to develop four digital classes that will be common core standards-based courses, focused on literacy and math. In addition, the Gates Foundation is reported to be partnering with Pearson Publishing to develop new learning tools and materials to be available to teachers and districts during the 2013-2014 school year.

So far this year, a total of 10 'Gates' grants have been awarded in the United States alone for "College-Ready Education".

· The American Federation of Teachers Education Foundation in Washington DC received one million dollars to invest in projects related to the Common Core Standards and to assist in carrying out a Standards Rollout.

· The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development in Virginia received a little over three million dollars to provide both teachers and school leaders with specific information about the Common Core Standards, and to develop and deliver technical assistance for purposes of successful implementation of the Standards at the district, school, and classroom levels.

· The Achievement Network out of Boston was awarded 1.5 million to support a Common Core Tools Project that will enable ANet to implement the Literacy by Design and Shell Center mathematics instructional and assessment tools aligned to the Common Core standards in a variety of low income schools.

Not all the grants this year are about the Common Core specifically. For example the American Association of School Administrators out of Arlington received funds to create a Consumer Reports or CNET-type website that provides analysis of the most prevalent student information systems and learning management systems with a focus on the user perspective.

Grant monies look certain to play a big role in education, perhaps more during these tough economic times. The bigger question is how will this impact publishing in America, in particular the smaller publishers? EdGate will be alert as these events unfold.

For more information about the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation programs, visit http://www.gatesfoundation.org/college-ready-education/Pages/default.aspx

Larry_Johnson

Larry Johnson

Project Manager

Client Solution

FL_MAP

Florida Course Descriptions

Are you familiar with the Course Descriptions created by the Florida Department of Education? They have created more than 1,600 courses, many of which include benchmarks rooted in the Florida Standards.

EdGate Correlation Services has included the state approved Florida Course Descriptions with benchmarks for the four core content areas in its repository. They are readily available for purchase. If you have content that aligns to these courses, you might want to consider adding them to your bulk download or Customer User Interface. And if your content is not yet aligned to these courses, contact your EdGate Sales Representative about our correlation services.

To learn more about the Florida Course Descriptions, visit http://www.floridastandards.org/courses/coursedescriptionsearch.aspx

Kathleen Ideguchi

Project Manager

Standards Update

Updates to The EdGate Standards Repository include:

· Idaho Information and Communication Technology Standards (2011)

· India Accountancy Classes XI-XII (NCERT - 2009)

· India Business Studies Classes XI-XII (NCERT - 2009)

· India English Classes I-XII (NCERT - 2009)

· India Environmental Studies Classes III-V (NCERT - 2009)

· India Geography Classes VI-XII (NCERT - 2009)

· India Mathematics Classes I-XII (NCERT - 2009)

· India Psychology Classes XI-XII (NCERT - 2009)

· India Science Classes VI-XII (NCERT - 2009)

· India Social Science Classes VI-XII (NCERT - 2009)

· North Carolina 2012-2013 Healthy Living Essential Standards (2010)

· Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR - 2011)

· Wisconsin Physical Education (2010)

Common Core Update

The following state adoptions of Common Core are now included in the EdGate Standards Repository:

· Alabama Mathematics Common Core Standards (2010 - includes up to 15% additions)

· Arizona Mathematics Common Core Standards (2010 - includes up to 15% additions)

· Arkansas Common Core Standards (2010 - no additions made at this time)

· California Common Core Content Standards (2010 - includes up to 15% additions)

· Connecticut Common Core Standards (2010 - no additions made at this time)

· Delaware Common Core Content Standards (2010 - no additions made at this time)

· Idaho Common Core Standards (2011 - no additions made at this time)

· Illinois Common Core Standards (2010 - no additions made at this time)

· Indiana Common Core Standards (2010 - no additions made at this time)

· Kentucky Common Core Standards (2010 - no additions made at this time)

· Minnesota Common Core Standards (2010 - includes up to 15% additions)

· New Jersey Common Core Standards (2010 - no additions made at this time)

· New York Common Core Standards (2011 - includes up to 15% additions)

· North Carolina Common Core Standards (2010 - no additions made at this time)

· Washington DC Common Core Standards (2010 - no additions made at this time)

· Wisconsin Common Core Standards (2010 - no additions made at this time)

If you have any questions regarding standards, feel free to contact me and I will be happy to assist you. You can always join us on Twitter and Facebook to receive postings regarding state standards in the EdGate Standards Repository at:

Kristie

http://twitter.com/EdGate

http://www.facebook.com

Kristie McCarley

EdGate Standards Manager

kmccarley@edgate.com