Implementing the Common Core State Standards: Year Three Progress Report from the Great City Schools. Results from 2013-14 School Year

Three years ago, the "Council of the Great City Schools" embarked on a multi-year initiative to help its member school districts implement the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Part of this initiative involves annual surveys of progress urban public school districts were making in implementing the CCSS. With the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, this report presents the results from the third year of the project. The survey was sent to curriculum directors, research directors, ELL directors, special education directors, and communication directors between June-August 2014. Received were 59 responses from 39 districts, for a response rate of about 70 percent of CCSS districts. Although this year's response rate was lower than 2013, the report's findings are consistent with previous years. Survey results over the last three years show that districts are making strides toward implementing the Common Core State Standards, but the dimensions of this challenge are great. To continue the momentum, districts will need to redouble their efforts in a number of key areas including: (1) aligning their curriculum with the common core across all grade levels; (2) addressing the learning requirements of students with special needs; (3) helping schools integrate technology into classrooms and prepare for online assessments; (4) measuring implementation success using classroom observations and student work; and (5) more actively informing and engaging parents and the community. The following are appended: (1) Responses to Open-Ended Questions; and (2) Participating Districts.