The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) - Mathematics were adopted by the DC State Board of Education (July, 2010), as the K-12 Math Standards for the District of Columbia. Schools began a staged implementation of the standards during the 2011-12 school year. From 2011-2014, teachers received ongoing training in Common Core implementation, with full implementation occurring during the 2014-15 school year.

The CCSS-Mathematics demand a shift in math instruction from an emphasis on procedural fluency towards a balance between procedural fluency, conceptual understanding and application of concepts, so students are better prepared for the critical thinking necessary to succeed in college, careers and their daily lives. OSSE seeks to support high-quality implementation of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.

Learn more about the standards and opportunities for support below.

Resources

• CCSS Introduction Video
• NCTM-Hunt Institute “Building Conceptual Understanding in Mathematics” Video
• View the Common Core State Standards-Mathematics

Understanding the Common Core State Standards of Mathematical Practice

While the CCSS is a set of K-12 vertically and horizontally aligned standards, the Standards for Mathematical Practice (SMP’s) emphasize the skills that math educators should seek to develop in students through engagement with mathematics content. These skills elevate the critical thinking of students and are applicable across all disciplines, not just mathematics.  Read the Standards for Mathematical Practice below and use the resources to watch the practices in action.

1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
3. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
4. Model with mathematics.
5. Use appropriate tools strategically.
6. Attend to precision.
7. Look for and make use of structure.
8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.

Resources

• CCSS Standards for Mathematical Practice In Depth - Official Site
• Illustrative Mathematics Overview of Standards for Mathematical Practice

How are the Common Core State Standards assessed?

The District of Columbia administers multiple assessments annually in accordance with DC and federal law. The PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) Assessments are Next Generation Assessments, which raise the rigor of the assessments, compared to the DC-CAS, to give educators and parents a better gauge of students’ college and career readiness.

• What is PARCC? [PDF]
• Access OSSE’s PARCC resources
• PARCC 2015 Released Items
• PARCC Scoring Guides
• PARCC Math Practice Tests
• PARCC Official Website  

Students in the District of Columbia took the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, or PARCC, assessments for the first time during the 2014-15 school year.  Most assessments were administered using technology. This is a major transition, but one that will allow DC students to demonstrate their knowledge of mathematics in a more accurate and engaging way.

• View student scores by school

Support Common Core and PARCC Implementation

Join the Common Core Educator Leader Cadre

The DC Common Core Educator Leader Cadre (ELC) is a group intended to help build and expand the number of educators who understand, support and feel ownership of the successful implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and PARCC assessments. The DC ELC is a multi-‐faceted team of educator leaders who organize a range of activities and provide job-‐embedded support to LEAs and educators across the District. Apply

Professional Development Opportunities

2016-17 Learning Opportunities (Updated Monthly)

OSSE offers Professional Development to District of Columbia STEM teachers. Please contact Monisha Karnani at [email protected] to inquire about future PD offerings in mathematics.

• Overcoming Math Anxiety - Webinar
• Leadership Strategies for Strengthening K-8 Mathematics (registration closed)
• Unpacking the Standards for Mathematical Practice (registration closed)
• Strategies for Developing Mathematical Discourse in the Classroom Webinar
• Mathematics Planning Group
  • Pre-K through grade 8
  • Grades 6-12
• Assisting Students Struggling with Mathematics: Response to Intervention (RtI) for Elementary and Middle Schools

Math Teacher Needs Assessment

DC math educators and school leaders are invited to participate in this brief survey to inform OSSE of professional development needs in mathematics. This survey should take no more than five minutes to complete. Survey results will be used to assess the training and support needs of DC schools with regard to math instruction and curricular support. Your response will help OSSE to provide the most relevant training and resources to improve mathematics instruction across the District of Columbia. [Take the survey]

Learn more about the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics

• Council of the Great City Schools - Common Core Road Maps for Parents
• Supporting Your Child In Mathematics (Videos)
• DCPS and the Common Core
• Shmoop – Breaking Down the Common Core State Standards
• Dan Meyer’s 3 Act Math - Excellent Modeling Tasks

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For more information or questions, please contact:

Monisha Karnani
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 741-5944
Office Hours: Monday to Friday 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.