CTB/McGraw Hill Helps Schools Transition to Common Core Assessments Through Practical Guidebook

New eGuide includes planning tips, all-new sample test items and other hands-on resources to support teachers

MONTEREY, Calif., Oct. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In an ongoing effort to help bring clarity and practical guidance to schools and teachers as they transition to assessments for the Common Core State Standards, CTB/McGraw-Hill has released a comprehensive eGuide, "Getting from Here to Core: How to Launch the Program that Launches Students." Developed by experts at CTB, the nation's leading educational assessment partner, the guide delivers a clear roadmap for schools to effectively and smoothly shift to the Common Core assessments, a new set of assessments aligned to the Common Core State Standards that are expected to be implemented across the United Statesbeginning in the 2014-2015 school year.

The guide – which includes some of the top educational resources available on Common Core standards and assessments – provides a detailed step-by-step guide to help educators transition with confidence.

Its content include:

• A set of sample Common Core test items in English and math
  These test items, which are some of the first Common Core sample questions made available to the public, offer unprecedented insight not only into the nature of the new assessments themselves but into the new standards' philosophy and unique progression of learning.

• An outline to help schools plan their journey toward meeting the Common Core
  More than a simple checklist, this outline features a comprehensive timeline of preparation milestones, allowing educators to benchmark their school's progress and gauge readiness.

• A look at how CTB can help with the transition process
  CTB offers an array of Common Core-aligned learning solutions, including TerraNova Common Core, Acuity InFormative Assessment™, CoreLink Services and Writing Roadmap 3.0, which can be used with virtually any teaching style or subject area. The eGuide provides a comprehensive explanation of how each of these can be best utilized to maximize student performance within the context of the new standards.

"We're excited to offer this eGuide to educators across the country and to work with schools to help ease the transition toward the new Common Core assessments," said Ellen Haley, president of CTB/McGraw-Hill. "Since their emergence, the Common Core State Standards have generated considerable discussion, but there remains a real need among educators for practical, step-by-step advice that helps them implement the standards in the classroom. As we developed this guide, we focused on the information and tools teachers want and need the most."

In addition to the eGuide, CTB will be providing additional resources to educators who seek further guidance, including regular webinars on various topics relating to the new standards.

To learn more about how CTB supports schools as they transition to the Common Core, please visit www.CTB.com/CommonCore.