Teachers in the Washington School District will soon be learning more about new curriculum standards to be implemented in 2014-15 to help all students become college- and career-ready by the time they leave high school.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Judy Straatmann gave school board members an overview of the “common core state standards” at their meeting last week.

These standards will replace the current grade level and course level expectations currently used to guide instruction, Straatmann said.

New assessments also will come with the new standards, she said.

The Smarter Balanced Assessment will take the place of MAP (state achievement tests) in grades 3-8 in English language arts and math. All juniors, regardless of their completed coursework, also will take the assessment test.

Students in grades 8-12 will continue to take end of course (EOC) assessments in the areas of government, English II, algebra I and biology. To date, American history, geometry, English I and algebra II are still voluntary. EOCs are given upon completion of course work.

“We are starting the transition to the common core standards,” said Straatmann, who has already attended numerous workshops on the initiative, along with the district’s curriculum coordinator. About 20 professional development days also have been devoted to learning more about the standards.

The administrative team recently participated in a four-hour overview on the new program, and on Feb. 17 a staff overview is planned.

In March, Straatmann said officials will delve into the standards even more to see the differences in contents and skills for each grade level.

“Our office has already aligned the standards to our current curriculum to assist with implementation,” she noted.

“Specific professional development will then take place over the next two years to ensure that our teachers have the skills to teach what is required of them due to the changes in the standards,” Straatmann said.

She said the common core standards are designed to assist students in being successful for 21st century learning.

“This includes having them think critically and problem solve . . . draw conclusions, make informed decisions, apply knowledge to new situations and create new knowledge,” she said.

Although state-led, the initiative was coordinated by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO).

The new standards were developed to be consistent across all states and build upon strengths and lessons of current standards and standards of top performing nations.

“Missouri, due to having a rigorous assessment already, was selected to review all draft versions of the standards before they were adopted,” Straatmann explained.

English language arts and math were the first subjects chosen, Straatmann said, because they will help students build skill sets for other subjects. The two subjects also are the most frequently assessed.

Other subject areas may be developed, she noted, and new science standards are in the works.

Straatmann said field tests for the new assessments will occur in 2013-14 and then will be required in 2014-15.

“These tests are computer-based,” she noted, “so the kids will need to know keyboarding in order to take the tests.”

Straatmann stressed the district has an action plan going forward to make sure teachers are prepared.

“I do want you to know we’re not throwing out all of our curriculum,” she told the board. “We’re looking at what we have and seeing if we need to add to it . . . filling in the gaps.”

Board member Scott Byrne expressed some frustration with the curriculum change.

“The state spent all of this money on the MAP tests and now going to this . . . and it has nothing to do with the ACT . . . it just doesn’t make a lot of sense,” he said.