Vantage Point: Many changes ahead for governance leaders
By:
CSBA President Cindy Marks
Published: July 1, 2013
This has been a whirlwind year for public education. With the passage of the 2013-14 state budget, we have an entirely new funding system that underscores the importance of local governance. In addition, this year also saw districts ramping up for the implementation of the new Common Core State Standards, adopted by the Legislature in 2010 and slated for implementation in spring 2014—another big change for our schools that will usher in entirely new curriculum delivery and assessment systems.
It’s encouraging that the state has allocated $1 billion to support the implementation of Common Core in this fiscal year. This new investment in our schools is a step in the right direction. However, it is the first step along a long, winding path leading to full implementation. The California Department of Education estimates that our system needs $3.1 billion to effectively implement Common Core.
In addition to working on the operational aspects of Common Core, we also need to embrace our roles as spokespersons for this effort and champion the need for funding. Common Core will position our graduates for global competitiveness. For Common Core to be successful, our state must commit funding to support teacher training and educational efforts with parents. Its success rests with “the whole village” working together with our school and district administrators to support the new learning methods, the new focus on critical thinking and the new focus on hands-on learning.
I personally find this to be an exciting time. I believe Common Core and the focus on Linked Learning is the right direction for our schools. I recently had a chance to visit the stellar Linked Learning programs in the Sacramento City Unified School District in my role on CSBA’s Linked Learning Task Force. I talked to students about their STEM learning projects. They could not contain their excitement about putting their classroom knowledge into practice through collaborative projects, including the construction of a solar-powered boat. If the learning and enthusiasm that I witnessed that day is any indication of what is ahead for us as Common Core is implemented, we have exciting times ahead for our schools and students!
CSBA will continue to provide members with rich policy resources, including new policy briefs on the subject. An archived webcast is also available through MyCSBA, as well as blog posts with tips and resources about communicating now with stakeholders. An entire learning strand on the Common Core will also be available at the Annual Education Conference and Trade Show in December.
It’s been an uncommonly busy and tumultuous year for K-12 education, with more turbulence ahead as we implement Common Core. CSBA is here to support you as you navigate the choppy waters.