Making the Common Core Standards Work ─ Using Professional Development to Build World-Class Schools

Manley and Hawkins (educational administration and leadership, Dowling College and College of Saint Rose) present a guide for school leaders that outlines a method for implementing the Common Core State Standards and their rationale and purpose. They explain why common core standards and more rigorous curricula are needed and how to use them to prepare students to compete in a global economy. They view the standards as the framework for teacher and school leader development, innovation, and continuous improvement, and address what they are; the roles of school leaders and teachers; designing English and math curricula for all grades; challenges to implementation; guiding parents, students, and teachers to adopt new models; using formative assessments and differentiating instruction; multicultural issues, school improvement systems for struggling schools, and public policy changes; helping students acquire knowledge beyond the standards; and the role of teachers, school leaders, school board members, and business leaders in informing politics and policy designs and implementations associated with schools. Annotation c2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)