Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/279010
12 Summer 2014 x AEA Advocate AT THE CAPITOL Common Core Legislation On February 20, 2014, the Senate Education Committee voted along party lines on several bills that would stop the state from implementing the Common Core State Standards, known as the Arizona College and Career Ready Standards (ACCRS), which were adopted by the State Board of Education (SBE) four years ago and began use in classrooms this school year. • SB1310 prohibits the SBE from implementing the Common Core Standards, requires Arizona to withdraw from the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) and makes other changes regarding educational standards and assessments. This bill failed on the Senate floor on March 5. • SB 1388 restructures Arizona's K-12 education system by requiring school districts and charter schools to adopt, prescribe and implement academic standards, assessments, competency requirements and other K-12 functions. • SB1396 requires school district governing boards (district boards) and charter school governing bodies to adopt and prescribe academic standards, competency requirements, a minimum course of study and assessments unless they affirm those adopted and prescribed by the SBE. • SB1395 allows school district governing boards (district boards) and charter school governing bodies to opt out of competency requirements and assessments adopted by the SBE and establishes a subsequent adoption process for school districts and charter schools. Currently, the state uses the AIMS test to assess students, but it is not aligned with ACCRS and is being phased out after this school year. The SBE has already sent out a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a new assessment aligned with ACCRS. Whether the state uses the PARCC test or designs its own, the assessment will still need to align with the new state standards. At the same time, the new teacher evaluation system is being implemented and educators across the state are expressing frustration with evaluations including student test scores from an assessment that is not currently aligned with the standards being taught in the classroom this year. Governor Brewer has supported Common Core from the beginning and included money for implementation of the assessment in her budget, so it is likely she will veto any legislation hindering the state from moving forward with the new standards and assessment. The Arizona Education Association supports the Arizona College and Career Ready Standards (ACCRS) and our members want to see resources necessary to ensure that Arizona realizes the full potential of these standards to impact and improve student learning. "Our members' support is strongest for the content of the standards and their potential impact on student learning and readiness; their depth, higher cognitive levels, national continuity, and better alignment with demands after K-12 education," said AEA President Andrew F. Morrill. "The promise of the new standards can only be delivered if Arizona gets their implementation right. That means our state's leaders must fully fund the base level funding and begin to restore the cuts to our education system." AEA has shaped and articulated our support based on the majority of our members who have expressed an opinion. Our members have also expressed grave concern about the following: 1. Lack of sufficient resources to instruct students as they would like in mastery of the ACCRS. 2. Need for professional development and the time to learn how to efficiently and effectively instruct to these standards to foster student mastery and success. 3. School districts' need for technology and broadband to meet the requirements of online ACCRS assessments. 4. Evaluations and compensation based on Read NEA President Dennis Van Roekel's statement regarding Common Core implementation on page 15. " The promise of the new standards can only be delivered if Arizona gets their implementation right. " —Andrew F. Morrill, AEA President Continued on page 25 Summer.14advo.indd 12 3/14/14 2:58 PM