Department to release District Readiness Tool

Common Core professional development – now what? The South Dakota Department of Education will be hosting a meeting for curriculum directors and principals on Feb. 7 in Fort Pierre to offer them a chance to interact with a draft Common Core District Readiness Tool.

The tool is designed to help guide districts through implementing the Common Core Standards. The goal of the tool is to identify steps and decisions districts can be take or consider outside of sending their teachers to professional development. A few of the steps/decisions identified in the planning tool are: review current resources and supplemental materials for alignment to the new standards; discuss the option to implement standards-based report cards; develop a district curriculum and assessment plan.

The Readiness tool is a conversation starter and planning tool used by a leadership team. The tool will help districts plan over the next three years to create a Common Core implementation timeline. Full implementation of Common Core cannot take place in one single year. Upon creating an implementation plan districts can plan for financial needs, inservices, implementation of new programs or structures, etc.

“The District Readiness tool will allow districts to have local conversations and paint a picture of where they’re at and next steps or decisions they could take,” said Becky Nelson, Curriculum Administrator with the Department of Education.

Contact Becky Nelson for more information.