Educator collaboration key to successful CCSS implementation

CHICAGO - A new report released by the National Center for Literacy Education (NCLE) reveals educators across the United States feel ill prepared to help their students achieve the new Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in literacy. The report, Remodeling Literacy Learning Together: Paths to Standards Implementation, investigates the extent to which the professional expertise of educators working together is driving Common Core State Standards (CCSS) implementation. The report and supplemental materials is available at www.literacyinlearningexchange.org.

Remodeling Literacy Learning Together details key findings from a nationwide survey of more than 5,000 educators representing all grade levels and subject areas. As one of more than 30 professional education associations, policy organizations and foundations part of the NCLE coalition; the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) solicited the participation of its members to provide the data used to create the report.

Survey data reveals that working with peers is the most valued support for standards implementation. The educators that feel the most comfortable in implementing the standards are those who more frequently work with others to analyze student work, design curriculum and create assessments. However, results from the survey also show that the time set aside for collaboration is decreasing.

To successfully implement the CCSS, the report recommends that schools provide more time for educators to learn and plan together and to include everyone who has a stake in strengthening literacy teaching and learning. It also recommends that administrators encourage and support educators in innovating and designing appropriate lessons and materials, as those that do are actively engaged in the shift to national standards.

Of the educators who participated, 840 survey respondents were school librarians – more than 17 percent of the overall survey sample and the second largest group of respondents. AASL and NCLE will be further reviewing the survey data to highlight specific results pertaining to school librarians and will release the information at a future date.

The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), promotes the improvement and extension of library services in elementary and secondary schools as a means of strengthening the total education program. Its mission is to advocate excellence, facilitate change and develop leaders in the school library field.

A project of the National Council of Teachers of English and the Ball Foundation in alliance with more than 30 stakeholder groups representing educators and school/community leaders, the National Center for Literacy Education is a project to celebrate the work of successful school teams across the country that are achieving remarkable results in advancing literacy learning.