School Officers Release Core Teaching Standards for Public Comment

The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) made core teaching standards available for public comment today.

The standards will give teachers effective teaching principles to follow and help policymakers and educators accomplish their education goals, according to the council. A committee of practicing teachers, teacher educators and state education staff in the Interstate Teacher and Assessment Support Consortium developed the standards.

The education community and the general public can comment on the draft core teaching standards until Oct. 15.

The core teaching standards align with recent national and state standard documents, which include the following: 

• Common Core State Standards for students in math and English language arts. These standards include basic technology skills and tools that will help students learn.
   
• The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards accomplished teaching core principles
   
• The National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education accreditation standards
   
• The National Staff Development Council professional development standards
   
• The Interstate School Leader Licensure Consortium 2008 Policy Standards and the CCSSO's companion document Performance Expectations and Indicators for Educational Leaders
   

By keeping the teaching standards consistent, teachers will know what's expected of them and be able to develop professionally in these areas throughout their careers.

“In order to deliver on our promise to provide a first rate education to every child, we must continue building a coherent approach to preparing, licensing and supporting highly effective teachers,” said Gene Wilhoit, CCSSO executive director. “This document begins a national conversation that we hope will be robust and productive.”