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Jessica Hammonds, Executive Director

“It’s time that we as education communicators

take back the narrative about what is happening inside Alabama’s classrooms and

help separate and lift – up fact over fiction.” –

Team GRIT

What Is alabama grit – graduate ready. Impact tomorrow?

http://www.alabamagrit.org

What is alabama gritGraduate Ready. Impact Tomorrow.:

Alabama GRIT is a team of Alabama parents, educators, business leaders, military personnel, and other civic leaders who work together to ensure all of Alabama’s children have an opportunity to graduate from any of Alabama’s schools prepared for REAL LIFE– whether they are beginning college or a career.  

Who are the founding members of Alabama GRIT?

A+ Education PartnershipAlabama Council of Teachers of Mathematics School Superintendents

of AlabamaAlabama ASCD VOICES for Alabama’s ChildrenAlabama Association of School Boards Montgomery Education

FoundationAlabama Mathematics, Science, Technology Education Coalition

(AMSTEC)Alabama National Board Certified Teachers NetworkAlabama PTAAlabama State Department of Education Mobile Area Education

FoundationBirmingham Business Alliance Military Child Education CoalitionBlack Belt Education Coalition Huntsville Council of PTAsBusiness Council of AlabamaCouncil for Leaders in Alabama SchoolsGreater Birmingham Math InitiativeHuntsville Area Schools FoundationHuntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce  

What does alabama grit do?

WE ADVOCATE for higher academic standards.

WE PROMOTE policies and efforts that build on the gains our students are making.

WE FOSTER honest community conversations about what we want Alabama students to achieve.

LIFTING UP REAL VOICES we are a window into what is really taking place

inside Alabama’s classrooms

What we have learned about college and career ready standards/Common core in

alabama?

• Knowing some history• Highlights from polling• Highlights from focus groups

college and career ready standards-common core in Alabama

The Common Core State Standards is a states-based effort to raise academic expectations and classroom achievement nationwide.

In Alabama, we created our own standards based on the Common Core State Standards, called the Alabama College and Career Ready Standards.

college and career ready standards-common core in Alabama

Where did the Common Core come from?

The Common Core State Standards were developed by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers. Alabama’s leaders participate in both organizations.

Highlights from polling & focus groups that can help us develop messaging

1.) Most people have never heard of Common Core/College and Career Ready Standards.

2.) Most people (both Republican and Democrats) support the idea behind Common Core-less rote memorization and teaching to a test, and more reliance on real learning for real life.

3.) The mention of “Washington” or “Obama” is enough to cause the needle to move significantly.

Highlights from polling & focus groups that can help us develop messaging

People want to hear from TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS and LOCAL BUSINESS LEADERS

Now…what do we do with the information we have as communicators?

• We need to tell “our story” with proactive messaging – Real Learning for Real Life

• Communicate honestly• Engage our community• Focus our work on lifting-up real stories

of student and teaching achievement; crediting College and Career Ready Standards – Common Core – for success.

What is alabama Grit going to do?

Fill the void of information about College and Career Ready Standards – Common

Core.

Op-EdsLetters to the EditorBlogsNewslettersSocial Media• Provide fact-based information about CCSS on Facebook

and Twitter using the hashtag, #reallearning• Post stories of student achievement • Post stories of teachers going above and beyond• Share news stories relevant to the work the coalition is

doingEventsRecruiting speakers/writers

How alabama grit can help you?

Provide resources: •Myths vs Facts•Fact sheets•Brochures•Stickers/Pins•Videos•Took kits (parents, teachers, businesses)•Suggested Messaging for different audiences•Pledge Forms for events•What is CCSS in Alabama cards•Templates•Suggested speakers for events/forums/conferences

Brochure

GOT GRIT? THEN sign the pledge

Other resources

http://get2core.org/learn

http://highercorestandards.org/

Where you can find alabama grit – Graduate Ready. Impact Tomorrow

Learn more on our website and sign the pledge: www.alabamagrit.orgTwitter: @AlabamaGRIT #reallearningFacebook: Facebook.com/alabamaGRITAddress: P.O. Box 804, Montgomery, Alabama 36101Email: jessica@alabamagrit.org Phone: 334-430-5401