As public schools across the country transition to the new Common Core Standards, which will change the way math and reading are taught nationwide, the Turlock Unified School District is already adopting the approach by building a foundation for a better tomorrow for its students.

On Tuesday, the TUSD trustees were presented an overview of the district's Common Core Transition and Implementation Plan, changing the way students will learn in the classroom. CCS provides a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn. These standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills students will need once they graduate from high school.

“Common Core is perhaps the greatest second-order change to ever occur in public education,” said Superintendent Sonny DaMarto. “It is imperative that everyone in our district move together in an incremental collaborative manner as we prepare, transition, and implement the CCSS in 2014-15.”

TUSD’s Common Core Plan was a collaborative effort created by teachers, coaches, and site and district administrators who discussed and prioritized 10 major shifts required for successful Common Core transition and implementation.

“These stakeholders came together as a team and made a commitment to not leave any student behind,” said Interim Assistant Superintendent of Education Services Dana Trevethan.  “We  100 percent agree that this Common Core plan will work for us.”

Transition and implementation of the Common Core State Standards will result in expenses including training costs and new curriculum.

“These standards are the initial step in providing all students with a robust, high-quality education that is relevant to the real-world and reflects the knowledge and skills students will need to be successful in college and beyond,” said Trevethan.

CCSS will increase student engagement, academic language practice and the way they are taught in the classroom.

“CCSS brings together a little of the past with a little from what’s needed for the future,” said Cunningham Elementary Principal Al Silveira. “It will return fun to teaching while requiring an increased level of rigor. I am pleased to see the collaboration in developing our implementation plan for 2014-15.”