The Center on Education Policy (CEP) recently released a new report that examines states’ efforts to transition to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in math and English language arts. As of January 2012, 45 states and the District of Columbia have adopted the Common Core Standards in English language arts and mathematics. According to the report, most states do not expect to have them in place until the 2014-15 school year or later. The report also finds that while state education agencies are taking steps to familiarize state and district officials with the new standards and are aligning curriculum and assessments, they caution that adequate resources and technology related to test administration remain major challenges to full implementation of the CCSS.

Reflecting the complex nature of the transition to the CCSS, implementation is moving at different rates in different states. Six states in the survey expect to fully implement these standards before or during school year 2012-13. Nine states anticipate full implementation in 2013-14, 16 in 2014-15 and one in 2015-16. These state timelines are affected somewhat by the work of two state-led consortia, which are developing assessments aligned to the CCSS and do not expect their tests to be ready until 2014-15.

On a relate note, Pennsylvania’s State Board of Education adopted the Common Core Standards in July 2010. Since then, work has been ongoing in the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to get the state ready for implementation. Click here to see detailed information on PDE’s work as posted on the Standards Aligned System (SAS) web site. In a report provided to the State Board earlier this month, PDE noted that the Assessment Anchor and Eligible content for English Language Arts and math have been rewritten to match the Common Core. The Bureau of Assessment has a draft of Anchor and Eligible Content for writing that will be reviewed soon. In addition, PDE provided to the State Board an updated proposed timeline:

October 2011 – Revise Anchor/Eligible Content in math and reading in grades 3, 4, 5,6,7,8 and 11 to align to Common Core Standards.
January 2012 – Revise PA Academic Standards in reading and math to create a set of PA Common Core Standards.
January 2012 – Begin development of Common Core aligned PSSA reading and math tests.
February 2012 – Post Common Core Standards on the SAS web site.
February 2012 – Develop PA Common Core train the trainer modules for IU delivery to local education agencies (LEA).
February- May 2012 – Offer training sessions to LEAs.
February 2012- ongoing – Align SAS resources to PA Common Core Standards.
Spring 2014 – Implement Common Core aligned PSSA tests, grades 3-5.
Spring 2015 – Implement Common Core aligned PSA tests, grades 6-8.

Source: PSBA Legislative Report, Jan. 27, 2012.