Welcome to Indiana's Academic Standards & Resources

Driven by information, powered by knowledge and energized by technology our world is changing quickly. In order for students to make reasoned decisions about their lives and contribute to their family, community, and nation they need more skills and knowledge than ever before. To meet these challenges, Indiana established world-class academic standards that clearly outline what students should know and be able to do at each grade level and subject area. In 2010, the State Board of Education adopted the 2010 Indiana Academic Standards for Science as well as the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics and English Language Arts and Literacy for Social Studies/History, Science and Technical Subjects.

Common Core State Standards Philosophy

The Common Core State Standards:

• are aligned with college and work expectations.
• include rigorous content and application of knowledge through high-order skills.
• build upon strengths and lessons of current state standards.
• are internationally benchmarked.
• are evidence and/or research-based.

The Common Core State Standards will

• help prepare all students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in college and careers..
• assist students who move between states.
• create the opportunity for America to compete for high-wage, high-skill jobs in a knowledge-based economy.
• allow for more focused pre-service education and professional development.
• create economies of scale around areas such as curriculum, instructional resources, and assessment.

Role of the Teacher

While the standards set expectations for student learning for each grade level, they do not prescribe how the standards should be taught. Teachers should use their skills, experience, talents, and resources to design standards-based classroom units and lessons that meet the needs of individual students.A note about learning resources

Assessment Horizon

Indiana is a governing state in the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC). Through PARCC a new generation of assessments will be developed and used throughout the nation, allowing us to compare and evaluate policies that affect student achievement across states and school districts.

The Common Core assessment includes a summative test, which will be administered online beginning with the 2014-15 school year. The assessment includes “through-course assessments” that take place over the course of the year, allowing teachers to adjust their instruction based on students’ results. As a governing state, Indiana will pilot Common Core items in 2012-13 and 2013-14 and provide schools with data regarding student performance on the Common Core State Standards.

Impact on Instruction

Grades K, 1, and 2

In 2011-12, kindergarten teachers will be the first to teach only the Common Core. Those kindergarteners will be the first class of 3rd graders to participate in the Common Core assessment. First-grade and second-grade students will learn Indiana Academic Standards and identified elements of Common Core in 2011-12. First-grade students will learn only Common Core in 2012-13. Second-grade students will learn only Common Core in 2013-14.

Grades 3-12

Students in grades 3-12 will receive an intentional introduction to the Common Core beginning with the 2011-12 school year to ensure they have the foundation for future learning with no instructional gaps. In 2014-15, all ELA and math teachers will only teach Common Core.

Transition Guidance

Indiana Department of Education staff members are working diligently, both externally with other states, and internally across the IDOE, to ensure the development of a content framework for Common Core. This work is critical as we begin the transition to the Common Core State Standards. Equally as important is providing teachers with a clear understanding of what to teach next year (and in subsequent years). A tight alignment between the content which is “taught” and that which is “tested” on ISTEP+ and End-of-Course Assessments (ECAs), together with the initiation of Common Core State Standards instruction, requires a clear path for teachers to develop the foundation for future learning and assessment. A Crosswalk of the Standards with Transition Guidance will be found on the Common Core webpage at http://www.doe.in.gov/commoncore

School staff need to work collaboratively to plan guaranteed and viable curriculum aligned to the standards which is differentiated to meet students’ needs. Resources to support schools in developing curriculum can be found on the Curriculum Map link on https://learningconnection.doe.in.gov/Login.aspx

A note about the revision cycle of the academic standards

Indiana's Academic Standards are revised on a 6-year cycle. New Science Standards were adopted in 2010. New CTE Standards will be adopted in 2011. New Social Studies Standards will be adopted in 2012. You can download draft standards and submit an evaluation during the revision periods by visiting our Online Evaluation Center.

For questions regarding Indiana Department of Education Standards and Resources please email: standards_support@doe.in.gov