Ever wonder what the future holds for our children and grand children? What skills they will need? Wonder how schools anticipate the future? I paused the other day just to “google” what the top jobs will be by 2020 and this is what I found according to a US News and World Report; #1-Data crunching, making sense of numbers, #2- Counseling and Therapy recognizing that mental health is as important as physical health, #3- Scientific research with an increase demand in biology, chemistry, math, and engineering, #4- Computer engineering, #5- Veterinarians, # 6- Environmental and Conservation Science, #7- Health Care, #8- Management, #9- Finance, and #10- Entrepreneurship. Based on information retrieved from Colorado Department of Education let’s take a look at Colorado Academic Standards, the impact of standards on the Colorado economy, district requirements, and how parents can assist students in meeting the standards.
Colorado is raising the bar to ensure that all students receive a world-class education.
Academic standards set the expectation for what students need to know and be able to do by the end of each grade and subject. They form the foundation of what teachers teach and students learn in the classroom. Colorado has had standards for student learning for 20 years.
Colorado is working to implement revised academic standards, called the Colorado Academic Standards, in 10 content areas designed to support your child with the academic knowledge and skills needed to be successful in college, career and life. The revised standards are important because they will not only improve what your child learns, but how she or he learns by teaching critical-thinking, problem solving and effective communication skills. They will also better prepare your child to compete for the jobs of the future with students from around the world.
The Colorado Academic Standards will help strengthen Colorado’s economy. The revised Colorado Academic Standards are critical to the business community because they were designed to prepare students to be successful in globally competitive jobs. Academic Standards are critical to Colorado’s economic development because they were designed to give all students today the knowledge and skills they will need to be prepared for the careers of tomorrow, including the ability to communicate effectively, work in groups, apply math in real-world situations, read and analyze both literature and informational text, construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others. The improved standards are an important step in building a stronger workforce in Colorado. They will help fuel innovation and strengthen the state’s economy. The standards respond directly to the request from business leaders to have Colorado students be better prepared for the jobs of the future.
Standards establish what students need to learn, but do not tell teachers how to teach. Teachers and school leaders will continue to establish curriculum per Board of Education approval, create lesson plans and tailor instruction to the unique needs of their students. The best understanding of what works in the classroom comes from teachers and the standards allow each teacher in each classroom to figure out what works best. The Colorado Academic Standards are designed to have teachers go more in depth in their subjects, provide clear and consistent learning targets and mitigate challenges with student mobility. The standards provide students, parents and teachers with a clear understanding of what students are expected to learn at every grade level, and as such, serve as a roadmap to quality education. For the past two years teachers and principals in the Brush School District have work to align our curriculum to each grade level and each content area. This current year we are working to ensure alignment pre-school through twelfth grade. Districts are required by law to meet the state’s standards (22-7-1013, C.R.S); parents cannot opt their children out of meeting the state’s standards or ask to be placed in classes that do not adhere to the state standards; and every student enrolled in a public school is required to take the state assessments.
The revised standards bring greater opportunities for parent and family engagement.
The Colorado Academic Standards allow parents, students and teachers to be on the same page about student learning and to set high expectations together. When you know what your child will be learning in the classroom, you and your child’s teacher can identify when your child needs extra help or needs more challenging work. Here are a few tips for parents’ to reinforce their child’s learning at home; setting and keeping high expectations, make education a top priority, talk with your children about school and the topics explored each day in their classrooms, providing home environments for studying and completing homework, reading with their kids and/or designating a time for reading each day.
Outcomes improve when students, parents and teachers are on the same page working together toward shared goals. The standards provide students, parents and teachers with a clear understanding of what students are expected to learn at every grade level, and as such, serve as a roadmap to quality education. Outcomes improve when students, parents and teachers are on the same page working together toward shared goals. The implementation of the standards is an important step to improve education in Colorado. The Colorado Academic Standards are one part of the larger solution and are important in providing the necessary foundation for building college and career readiness for all Colorado students. It will take the commitment of parents, educators and business and community leaders over time to ensure the standards are implemented effectively. Together, we must stay the course and remain committed to ensure Brush students are successful in college, career life. Next week, let’s take a look at the new state assessment.
Dr. Michelle Johnstone