Are PLHS Graduates Ready...
... for College and Careers?
by Judy Chamberlain
"Are our students learning the right things to be ready for successful transitions to advanced schooling or the workplace?" This is the question that guides us, from the first day of kindergarten to the presentation of diplomas. In order to make the right decisions about what to teach and when to teach it, we rely on guidance from the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) and input from the State Board of Regents, as well as reports from students and employers.
Over the past few years, schools across the country have been working very hard on passing state assessments (No Child Left Behind) but we are hearing that the other subject areas are not being taught to a high enough level of rigor; as a result, colleges and employers must spend time and money to bring the youngsters' skills up to their standards. The National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers took action recently, and asked to have a new curriculum developed. This was done, and the Common Core State Standards for Math and English Language Arts were approved by KSDE last Spring.
The new Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are much more specific than the standards we have been using since 2003. They take the basics, which we have been teaching very well, and add deeper levels of understanding to them. Parents will notice that students are expected to master concepts such as multiplication at an earlier age than our current practice. They will also notice that students are learning to think critically, argue logically, and work in teams in all subjects.
We know that everyone shares the goal of sending our graduates out into the world ready for good jobs or further education. The next two years will offer opportunities to talk about the changes we need to make. Additional information and the new standards are available by copying this link into your browser: http://www.ksde.org/Default.aspx?tabid=4605
Thank you for your continuing support!
