{"id":17267,"date":"2013-03-07T14:10:39","date_gmt":"2013-03-07T19:10:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/?p=17267"},"modified":"2013-03-07T14:10:41","modified_gmt":"2013-03-07T19:10:41","slug":"three-questions-for-orange-county-superintendent-on-common-core","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/2013\/03\/07\/three-questions-for-orange-county-superintendent-on-common-core\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Questions For Orange County Superintendent On Common Core"},"content":{"rendered":"
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www.ocps.net<\/p>

Orange County Superintendent Barbara Jenkins was recognized during Gov. Rick Scott's State of the State address.<\/p><\/div>\n

When Gov. Rick Scott gave his State of the State speech<\/a> this week, he made a point of recognizing educators who \u201chelp make dreams come true for the next generation.\u201d<\/p>\n

He singled out Orange County Superintendent Barbara Jenkins<\/a>, who was in the House Chambers as the governor\u2019s guest.<\/p>\n

\u201cBarbara, will you please stand so we can honor your commitment to the teachers in your district and your dedication to student achievement,\u201d asked Scott.<\/p>\n

After her moment in the spotlight, Jenkins spoke with us about her district\u2019s move toward Common Core State Standards. <\/a><\/p>\n

The standards have been adopted by 45 states and the District of Columbia. Common Core standards emphasize deeper understanding of fewer topics, and ask students what they know and prove how they know it.<\/p>\n

She said it\u2019s exciting that most states have agreed to adopt similar curriculum and will offer similar assessments to show how well districts are doing.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s just good, sound education for our students to be 21st<\/sup> century learners, to delve deeply into things like creative thinking and problem solving and justifying your answer,\u201d Jenkins said. \u201cThat kind of stretch for our students is going to be good for public education. It\u2019s going to help transform what we do for our children.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Q: <\/span>Education Commissioner Tony Bennett has said districts need to have a \u201cPlan B\u201d for testing students in Common Core in case the necessary technology isn\u2019t in place by the 2014-15 academic year. Do you think a \u201cPlan B\u201d will be necessary?<\/p>\n

A: <\/span>(Bennett said) that in no way implies that he doubts that PARCC will be ready<\/a>, which is the assessment that matches Common Core. We intend to move forward with that assessment, but in case something has to be adjusted, we do have to have a Plan B.<\/p>\n

So there are a couple of things that will be of concern to superintendents and local school boards. The PARCC assessment<\/a> is going to require that you have enough computers to administer it to your student body.<\/p>\n

So if they recommend certain ratios \u2013 a 2 to 1 ratio students to computers in schools<\/a> \u2013 and we know we\u2019re lacking in those ratios, then one of two things are going to have to happen.<\/p>\n

Either we adjust the window and have longer periods of time and more days for the testing to get it done, or you get additional technology in your schools to cover what is needed for the PARCC assessment.<\/p>\n

In Orange County, we\u2019re certainly looking at what we have available<\/a> as far as the technology \u2013 the equipment that our students can use for taking the PARCC assessment. Once those evaluations are completed, then we\u2019ll need to make decisions about what purchases we\u2019ll make and what provisions we\u2019ll have for PARCC by 2014-15.<\/p>\n

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