Video Series Captures Insights from Educators Serving Large Percentages of Low-Income Students and Students of Color
WASHINGTON, DC – The Alliance for Excellent Education today released videos highlighting how five states—California, Colorado, Kentucky, Maryland, and Ohio—are implementing the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and serving significant percentages of low-income students or students of color. Based on interviews that the Alliance conducted with teachers as well as school, district, and state education leaders, the videos serve as a valuable resource for other schools, districts, and states implementing the CCSS.
“Opponents of the Common Core are quick to criticize the standards, but slow to listen to the individuals who are actively implementing them,” said Bob Wise, president of the Alliance for Excellent Education. “Rather than describing a broken and rigid system, the educators in these videos express overwhelming support, and even gratitude, for the Common Core.”
The videos feature state education leaders from California, Colorado, Kentucky, Maryland, and Ohio, as well as district- and school-level leaders from:
- Sanger High School, Sanger Unified School District (Sanger, California)
- Skyline High School, St. Vrain Valley School District (Longmont, Colorado)
- Seneca High School, Jefferson County Public Schools (Louisville, Kentucky)
- Benjamin Franklin High School, Baltimore City Public Schools (Baltimore, Maryland)
- John Hanson Middle School, Charles County Public Schools (Waldorf, Maryland)
- New Tech West High School, Cleveland Metropolitan School District (Cleveland, Ohio)
“The Alliance selected these states, districts, and schools because they are improving their high school graduation rates and making progress in closing achievement gaps—particularly among students of color and low-income students,” Wise said. “By effectively implementing the Common Core, these educators are seeing success with students who are often considered the most challenging to educate. Their positive experiences are proof that all students can learn, achieve higher standards, and be successful given the right support, including effective and supportive educators and administrators.”
The Alliance will hold a webinar today from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. (ET) with educators featured in the videos, including
- Erin Frew, principal of New Tech West High School (Cleveland, OH);
- Dewey Hensley, chief academic officer of Jefferson County Public Schools (Louisville, KY); and
- Henry Johnson, Maryland Assistant State Superintendent for Curriculum, Assessment, and Accountability.
Alliance President Bob Wise will moderate the discussion. Visit https://all4ed.org/webinar-event/jan-21-2015/ to register for the webinar and ask a question of the panelists.
For more information on the video project, and to access the videos of educator insights, visit https://all4ed.org/CommonCoreEquity/.
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The Alliance for Excellent Education is a Washington, DC–based national policy and advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring all students, particularly those traditionally underserved, graduate from high school ready for success in college, work, and citizenship. www.all4ed.org
