Alpine School Districtand Utah Core Standards

Information for Parents and Employees

Updated: July 23, 2014

Alpine School District teachers seek to provide students with equitable access to academic knowledge and achievement in an environment where young people are actively engaged through caring instruction. Without mutually accepted standards, however, even the best teachers would disagree about what children should know and be able to do.

Utah Core Standards

The Utah State Board of Education, therefore, has established academic benchmarks in all subjects—known as Utah Core Standards—since 1984. In 2010, the State Board made changes to standards in math and English language arts by adopting the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in those two subject areas. Adopting these core standards has changed very little in the way schools operate.

Utah Core Standards

Most principals and teachers have been aware of CCSS for many years. Work began on them in 2007, with educators, state legislators, school board members, and business leaders involved in this grassroots effort. Following intense public review of drafts, standards in math and English language arts for grades K-12 were released in 2010, defining what students should know at each grade level, setting consistent outcomes from state to state.

Purpose of This Resource

To date, 43 states, the District of Columbia, four territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity have adopted these voluntary standards. Initially, they made sense to most everyone. Recently, however, some confusion and concerns have arisen. This resource helps answer some of the most recurring questions asked by the Alpine School District community.

Purpose of This Resource

1. What are Utah Core Standards?2. Why use mutually accepted standards in ASD,

Utah, and the US?3. What role did/does the federal governmet fill in

setting standards?4. What is SAGE testing?5. How will our student testing data be used?6. What is ASD doing to support our teachers?

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Utah Core

Standards

If you have further questions, feel free to contact a teacher, administrator, or one of our knowledgeable curriculum staff members at 801-610-8488.Click here to read the Utah Core Standards

Utah Core Standards are a set of benchmarks in all subject areas that students are expected to reach in order to prepare for life after high school. An example from 3rd grade mathematics reads: “Multiply one-digit whole numbers by multiples of 10 in the range of 10-90 (e.g., 9 x 80, 5 x 60) using strategies based on place value and properties of operations.” In 2010, the Utah State Board of Education adopted standards in two subjects—math and English language arts—from the Common Core State Standards. Curriculum (textbooks and materials) and instruction (lesson plans and formative assessments) are determined at the local level. This ensures that teachers meet the instructional needs of their students and reflect the values of their community.

1. What areUtah Core Standards?

Click here to view a three-minute video explaining the Common Core State Standards

Prepares students for their future: The Utah Board of Regents estimates that up to 40% of college freshman are not ready for college-level math and writing courses, requiring remedial courses that carry no credit. The Utah Core Standards identify what students need to know and be able to do at each grade level to be ready for their freshman year—without remediation.

Helps families on the move: Families that move across district and state lines will experience a smoother adjustment for their kids, knowing they can jump right in without being behind or ahead of their class. This is especially helpful for military families, and several military groups have voiced strong support of a common core.

Facilitates collaboration and improvement: The US Department of Education’s statisticians found a lot of variation in how each state determined “proficient” status when they mapped state standards to scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Greater agreement on high standards allows states to collaborate to improve education nationally.

2. Why use mutually-accepted standards in ASD, Utah, and

the US?

The Utah Core Standards in math and English language arts are based on the Common Core State Standards, a state-led effort to better prepare students for their future. The federal government did not participate in the creation of the standards, and they are not federally controlled. Utah parents, educators, and subject-area experts participated in the creation of the standards. They were vetted thoroughly by the Utah State Board of Education and by parents who attended public meetings held across the state. The standards do not tie Utah to any federal programs, grants, or assessment systems. The Utah State Board of Education is free to change the Utah Core Standards at any time without penalty.

3. What role did/does the federal government fill in

setting standards?

Click here to learn more aboutthe development of the CCSS,

including the timeline

Common Core State Standards

Development Process

Click here to learn more aboutthe relationship between the standardsand the federal Race to the Top grant

(scroll down to “Myths About Implementation”)

Students have taken statewide year-end tests for many years. Utah began fielding computer adaptive tests in 2008. The Utah State Legislature established a computer adaptive testing system statewide in 2013-14. The name of these academic tests is “SAGE” (Student Assessment of Growth and Excellence). The tests were developed specifically for Utah students and were written with input from Utah teachers (including some from ASD), the Utah State Office of Education, test development experts, and Utah citizens and parents. The assessments adapt to level of the student so teachers can design instruction appropriately. They are not mandated by any involvement with the Common Core.

4. What isSAGE testing?

Click here to read the pamphlet entitled, “Information for Families on Utah’s SAGE Assessment System.”

Click here to go to the SAGE Portal where you can:Take a training testPreview sample questionsLearn how access your child’s test results

More InformationRegarding SAGE

Measurement of student learning is vital in helping to improve education in our communities, our state, and our country. The Utah State Office of Education collects information to report current learning levels and to track trends over time. Required data reports, however, are provided in the aggregate—meaning only state, district, school and grade level data are provided, not student level data. Common Core State Standards contain no requirements for data recording and reporting. Likewise, SAGE does not change any of the data that are collected or reported. Teachers and parents find year-end test results very useful.

5. How will our studenttesting data be used?

Click here to view an explanation of Utah’s State Longitudinal Data System

(you will find other links in the report as well)

The Utah State Board of Education regularly updates the Utah Core Standards. Teachers, therefore, need ongoing support to ensure they implement current standards and effective instructional methods. Alpine School District has a long tradition of providing high quality teacher professional development. A few of our current initiatives are listed below:

6. What is ASD doingto support our teachers?

• Core Standards Training offered three days in June

• Summer Collaboration Grants awarded to teams for submitting a successful plan for self-directed instructional improvement

• Professional Development Days—three to be exact—spread throughout the school year

• Collaboration Incentive provides a small bonus based on points earned on a rubric (assessed by teachers, administrators, and parents)

• Instructional Coaching provided to all first-year elementary and a few secondary teachers

• In-service Classes offered in many subject areas throughout the year