This blog post was authored by Pamela Fong, Research Associate, WestEd’s Center for the Future of Teaching & Learning.

With California public school educators having to adjust how to teach K-12 students throughout the state, the Center for the Future of Teaching & Learning (The Center) sought to understand what this complex endeavor — implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) — looks like six years after adoption of the state standards.

From The Center’s interviews with 42 California district leaders last fall, we learned a lot about the current status of CCSS implementation. District leaders were candid with us about the progress they’ve made, the challenges they face, and the particular ways districts need assistance to advance standards-aligned instruction.

In a special three-part CenterView series, The Center has been reporting on the themes and findings that have emerged from those interviews.

We focus this second issue on the relationship between school districts and technical assistance providers — factors influencing district selection of service provider support and the type of partnership districts seek to have with them. At the same time, districts are strengthening their internal capacity; that is, developing teacher leaders and coaches to provide more instructional support and professional learning for teachers.

Based on insights from district leaders, The Center offers actionable opportunities for technical assistance providers to consider in an effort to best support districts. We share them here:

  • Partner with districts to increase district capability and ownership
  • Empower districts to monitor their own progress
  • Develop district capacity for teacher leaders to lead and support professional learning
  • Participate in the (forthcoming) California Initiative network of technical assistance providers to leverage expertise and support California districts

For more information, we encourage you to read the latest CenterView, Increasing District Capacity to Implement the Common Core: It Begins with a Partnership. Also, learn more about the study at the Center for the Future of Teaching & Learning website.