College and Career Ready Standards initiative Archives

By Debbie Gregory.

Starting this fall, the Department of Defense (DOD) will be launching its new initiative to better prepare the children of active duty military and DOD civilians for work and college. The College and Career Ready Standards initiative will be administered by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA). Serving more than 78 thousand students in 181 accredited schools in 14 districts, the facilities are located in 12 foreign countries, seven states, as well as in Guam and Puerto Rico.

The College and Career Ready Standards initiative, also referred to as the CCRS program, is intended to help DOD students grasp the skill sets they’ll need when they graduate, whether they are continuing their education or entering the workforce. This task could prove difficult, as every individual student has different goals, needs and levels of experience with the material. However, common denominators do exist, such as résumé writing, filling out college applications, and practice admissions/employment interviews. But the prime focus of the program will be on helping DODEA students become sought after, independent thinkers and workers.

The CCRS program will be introduced gradually so that students, teachers and parents aren’t overwhelmed. CCRS education will make its debut for the 2015-2016 school-year in math classes for DODEA students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. For grades 6-12, the CCRS math classes will begin in the 2016-2017 school-year. The DODEA hopes to have CCRS education in place for all subjects and grade levels by the end of the 2019-2020 school-year.

The new initiative is very much in-line with the standards-based education known as “common core” that is currently used in 46 states around the country. Performance assessment for students and teachers using tests and multiple evaluations will show how the standards are being met under the CCRS program.

The DODEA will rely on the parents of their students to help implement the system. After all, parents are partners in their child’s education. The DODEA will issue handbooks, implement a website and hold multiple conferences to help educate parents on the CCRS program.

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