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Standards Delivery News
Recent document grade changes improve accuracy across collection
In an effort to better represent the state's intent, we have recently changed our grade-clustered representation of a few standards documents. In some cases, we have changed some grade spans (e.g., K-3) to single grades (e.g., 3rd Grade); in others, we've changed some single grades (e.g., 4th Grade) to spans (e.g., 4th-5th Grades). These changes were necessary to provide our clients with the most accurate representation of the standards data. The following documents were affected:
- Pennsylvania Academic Standards:
- Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening-2002
- Mathematics-2002
- Science and Technology-2002
- Environment and Ecology-2002
- Civics and Government-2002
- Economics-2002
- Geography-2002
- History-2002
- Health, Safety and Physical Education-2002
- Language Proficiency Standards for English Language Learners-2005
- Arts and Humanities-2002
- Family and Consumer Science-2002
- Proposed Career Education and Work-2002
- Career Education and Work-2006
- Nebraska Academic Standards:
- Reading/Writing-2001
- Mathematics-2001
- Virginia Standards of Learning - History and Social Science-2001
- Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills - Languages Other Than English-1998
New Meta-Data Types
As standards evolve and change over time, there is a growing need to introduce new meta-data types when storing standards. We've defined three meta-data types, as follows:
- Lead-in
- Organizer
- Extended description
The "lead-in" is an introductory piece of information for a standard. The Michigan Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Preschool uses these lead-in items, as in the following example. (In the examples, the text preceding an asterisk (*) is considered lead-in information.)
1. Children begin to understand written language read to them from a variety of meaningful materials, use reading-like behaviors, and make progress towards becoming conventional readers.
- In comprehension strategries: *
- 1.A. Retell a few important events and ideas they have heard from written materials (e.g., in stories and in books about things and events).
- 2.A. Enlarge their vocabularies both with words from conversation and instructional materials and activities.
- In print and alphabetic knowledge: *
- 1.B. Children typically: Show progress in identifying and associating letters with their names and sounds.
- In concepts about reading: *
- 1.C. Children typically: Understand that ideas can be written and then read by others.
An "organizer" is a term used by the state to organize a set of standards, though it's not actually part of the standard itself. The Arkansas Curriculum Framework uses organizers, as in the following example.
Oral and Visual Communications
- 1. Speaking* - Students shall demonstrate effective oral communication skills to express ideas and to present information.
- 2. Listening* - Students shall demonstrate effective listening skills in formal and informal settings to facilitate communication.
- 3. Media Literacy* - Students shall demonstrate knowledge and understanding of media as a mode of communication.
The "extended description" serves as a broader perspective to the standard itself, and often describes a course or grade level, or how the strand relates to the subject area in questions. It may also be a note or reference to another document or website. The Kentucky Program of Studies uses extended descriptions, as in the following example.
Big Idea: Number Properties and Operations
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Whole number sense and addition and subtraction are key concepts and skills developed in early childhood. Students build on their number sense and counting sense to develop multiplication and division. They move flexibly and fluently through basic number facts, operations and representations. Their understanding of the base-10 number system expands to include decimals. They examine various meanings and models of fractions. They explore data, perform measurements and examine patterns as part of the development process for number and operations, using other mathematics strands to enrich number. Elementary number encompasses computational fluency with whole numbers, relationships between decimals and fractions and techniques for reasonable estimations. *
While not new, the stem meta-data type also appears in all standards deliveries. A stem provides a non-contextual introduction to a standard, such as "The student will:" or "Students shall."
These new meta-data types will be provided to clients who receive our standards export services, so we've updated our default delivery formats to support these types. To best serve our clients, these changes will not go into effect immediately. Rather, they will be applied to a client's account only after the client has contacted Academic Benchmarks to indicate they are ready for the new formats.
Today's Alignment Tip
When aligning grade-specific items, activate the Match Legend. This tool enables you to see what states have matches in grades near those you've chosen but might be missing out on.
Alignment System News
New Report Management System makes tracking reports easy
Academic Benchmarks is pleased to introduce the Report Management System (RMS), which enables simple requesting and managing of reports in the Academic Benchmarks Alignment System. RMS allows you to track which reports you've requested and which reports you've already received, all from one central location. It will no longer be necessary to log into the Academic Benchmarks FTP server to retrieve an old report (though this option will continue to be available); in RMS, all parameters of current and previous reports are stored and available in a centralized and easy-to-use location.
To create a report:
- Select the report you want to create via your logged in homepage.
- Indicate the parameters you want the report to include.
- Click the Generate button.
When the report is finished processing, it will be moved in to the Delivered Report section. With one click, you can download the report.
RMS eliminates the need to remain on the request page while waiting for your requested report to generate. Now, the report goes into your queue, enabling you to continue with other tasks or request additional reports while the request report is generated. Once the requested report is finished generating, you can return to RMS and download it with one click.
Academic Benchmarks will continue to improve the RMS features in the future. Two of the features we are working on include the following:
- The ability to customize the contents of your reports to contain only the data you really need.
- The ability to receive reports in a variety of delivery formats.
Look for more details about RMS and other Academic Benchmarks enhancements in the future.
If you have any questions on this or any other feature in the Academic Benchmarks Alignment System please contact us at
Academic Benchmarks News
PBS selects Academic Benchmarks standards database and alignment tools in multi-year deal
The Public Broadcasting System (PBS) has selected Academic Benchmarks as its exclusive provider of education standards. In addition, the multi-year agreement includes licensing of the Academic Benchmarks web-based alignment tool set.
Public television's primary mission is to inform and inspire the American public with multi-platform content of unparalleled educational quality. PBS is dedicated to providing educators, their students, and their families with resources that transform teaching and learning. Through local stations' outreach, program producers, and online efforts like PBS Teachers, they will continue to sustain and enhance the role that teachers play in children's lives.
Look for Academic Benchmarks at the upcoming National School Boards Association T+L conference
Academic Benchmarks will be attending the National School Boards Association T+L conference which is being held October 17-19, 2007, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Let us know if you'd like to get together during the conference.
Academic Benchmarks would like to welcome the following companies to the Academic Benchmarks family:
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Standards News By State |
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Alabama
Extended Standards - Math
Use the Alabama Extended Standards Grades K-12: Math (February 2007) for writing all IEPs for students with significant cognitive disabilities who will be assessed using the Alabama Alternate Assessment (AAA).
AB Release Date: 6/8/2007
Extended Standards - ELA
Use the Alabama Extended Standards Grades K-12: Reading (February 2007) for writing all IEPs for students with significant cognitive disabilities who will be assessed using the Alabama Alternate Assessment (AAA).
AB Release Date: 6/8/2007
Colorado
Assessment Standards 2007 - Science
Colorado will implement these assessment frameworks for the 2007 school year. These assessment frameworks function as an assessment development document. They guide the development of the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP), and thus reflect only those student skills and knowledge that can be assessed on a large scale, paper pencil assessment.
AB Release Date: 6/20/2007
Building Blocks for Early Learning - Math & ELA
Colorado implemented these early learning standards in 2003. The building blocks provide a connection to the K-12 content standards.
AB Release Date: 6/14/2007
Florida
Functional - Special Diploma POs and Alternate Assessment - Math, ELA, Science
Florida implemented these alternate assessment standards in 2006. This document provides standards, benchmarks, and indicators specifically for students who need various levels of assistance.
AB Release Date: 6/13/2007
Hawaii
Sample Performance Assessment - All Subjects
Adopted in 2005, the sample performance assessments are a generalized description of how a student might demonstrate significant aspects of the benchmark.
AB Release Date: 6/22/2007
New Hampshire
Early Learning Guidelines - Arts, Health, & ELA
New Hampshire implemented these early learning standards in 2006. The intent of the guidelines is to help create an environment for young children from birth to prekindergarten so that these children are ready for kindergarten.
AB Release Date: 6/14/2007
New Mexico
Performance Standards and Benchmarks For 3 and 4 Year Olds - ELA & Heath
New Mexico revised these early learning standards in 2002. The intent of this document is to provide educational guidance for adults working with young children, with and without disabilities; promote developmentally appropriate practice in daily activities and expectations for young children; provide guidance for individual educational planning for young children; and infuse and capitalize on learning opportunities in everyday activities for all children.
AB Release Date: 6/19/2007
North Carolina
Early Learning Standards - ELA
This document was implemented in 2006. Foundations are designed to help early educators, parents, and others do just that by describing the particular skills and abilities that are important for children's success and providing ideas for fostering their development.
AB Release Date: 6/19/2007
Oklahoma
Prekindergarten Standards - All Subjects
Oklahoma adopted these prekindergarten standards in 2003. These curriculum guidelines are intended to be a recommended curriculum for children attending early childhood programs in Oklahoma.
AB Release Date: 6/18/2007
Rhode Island
Early Learning Standards - All Subjects
Rhode Island implemented the early learning standards in 2004. These standards were created so that all children could learn what they need to know and be able to do before they enter Kindergarten.
AB Release Date: 6/12/2007
South Carolina
Curriculum Standards 2007 - Math
C adopted these curriculum standards in 2007. This document contains the revised academic standards in mathematics for South Carolina students from kindergarten through the twelfth grade.
South Dakota
Early Learning Standards - All Subjects
South Dakota implemented the early learning standards in 2006. These standards were created so that all children could learn what they need to know and be able to do before they enter Kindergarten.
AB Release Date: 6/12/2007
Content Standards - ELA
South Dakota is implementing these standards in the 2008-09 school year. The South Dakota standards provide a listing of essential core content to be taught and learned. The standards are designed to guide the planning of curriculum and to anchor the assessment of learning from kindergarten through twelfth grade.
AB Release Date: 6/15/2007
Tennessee
Curriculum Standards - Dance
Tennessee implemented these curriculum standards in 2006. They were created to give students experience in the study and performance of a diverse repertoire of movement. This version replaces the 2002 version.
AB Release Date: 6/12/2007
Performance Indicators State - Dance
Tennessee implemented these indicators in 2006. The performance indicators provide evidence that the standards have been met.
AB Release Date: 6/20/2007
Early Learning Developmental Standards - All Subjects
Tennessee implemented these early learning standards in 2004 to describe what children should know and be able to do from birth to 60 months, so that they are ready for Kindergarten.
AB Release Date: 6/20/2007
Texas
Prekindergarten Curriculum Guidelines - All Subjects
Texas implemented these prekindergarten guidelines in 2000. The purpose of this document is to help educators make informed decisions about curriculum content for prekindergarten children. The guidelines provide a means to align the prekindergarten programs with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).
AB Release Date: 6/20/2007
Utah
Prekindergarten Guidelines - ELA, Math, & Health
Utah implemented these prekindergarten guidelines in 2006. The Utah Prekindergarten Guidelines have been written for the purpose of assuring that children enrolled in preschool and child care programs throughout the state unite their efforts in achieving common objectives.
AB Release Date: 6/20/2007
Washington
Early Learning and Development Benchmarks - ELA & Health
Washington implemented these early learning standards in 2005. These expectations, often called early learning standards or benchmarks, provide essential information for those who love, care for, and educate young children. Increasingly, early learning standards are being used locally by communities, nationally by states, and internationally by countries to strengthen and coordinate early childhood practices, programs, and policies.
AB Release Date: 6/20/2007
West Virginia
Standards and Objectives - Health & Arts
West Virginia is implementing the new standards and objectives in July of 2008. The content standards and objectives provide a focus for teachers to teach and for students to learn those skills and competencies essential for future success in the workplace and further education.
AB Release Date: 6/20/2007
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