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

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 States beginning 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 contents 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
        CoreMore 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 processCTB 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.

About CTB/McGraw-Hill
CTB/McGraw-Hill has an 85-year record of innovation and excellence in assessment, and serves more than 18 million students in all 50 states and in 49 countries. One of the first American publishers to introduce objective, standardized achievement tests to schools, today CTB/McGraw-Hill is a leader in testing with recognized products for online interim and formative, adult, and language proficiency assessment. Dedicated to advancing the use of student performance data to inform instructional decision making, CTB/McGraw-Hill's innovation continues today with technologies that include Web-based assessment and reporting, student response device software, and artificial intelligence for automated scoring of student essays. CTB/McGraw-Hill is part of McGraw-Hill Education, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP). McGraw-Hill Education is a leading global provider of instructional, assessment and reference solutions that empower professionals and students of all ages. For more information, visit CTB.com/AboutUs.

Contact:
Brian Belardi
McGraw-Hill Education
(212) 904-4827
brian_belardi@mcgraw-hill.com

SOURCE CTB/McGraw-Hill

SOURCE: CTB/McGraw-Hill