Common Core Learning Standards

Gap Analysis

On June 24, 2010 the Illinois State Board of Education adopted new Learning Standards for English/Language Arts and Mathematics. This Gap Analysis document is an informational tool designed to guide local steps towards increasing the awareness of the new standards and providing guidance to teachers at each grade level as they review curriculum and transition to full implementation. Local districts are encouraged to conduct their own review and analysis to initiate discussion based on what is taking place in their classrooms and analyzing local data.

Classroom teachers were convened in order to analyze the new standards and determine where curriculum and instructional changes might be needed. This group was well versed in the old Illinois Learning Standards and proved to be enthusiastic about the task. The teachers used a web-based tool developed by Achieve, Inc. to complete a gap analysis between the 1997 Learning Standards for Math and ELA and the newly adopted common core.

The group worked in small teams to determine:

Which of the concepts and skills required in the New Illinois State Standards ARE included in the old standards?
Which of the concepts and skills required in the New Illinois State Standards are NOT included in the old standards?
How similar are the New Illinois State Standards with respect to the grade level performance descriptors?

Using their best professional judgment, the teachers completed this interpretation of the new and old standards. This document is not meant to be a fixed analysis of the content of the standards. Rather, it is meant to provide a starting point from which educators can organize and begin the necessary discussions about their local curricula.

Read the full introduction and instructions on how to read the analysis.

Introduction

Standards Comparisons and Unmatched Standards

Comparison of 1997 Illinois Standards to Common Core Standards for English/Language Arts

Excel file of comparison of goals and descriptors to Common Core and unmatched standards – 421 pages
Comparison of 1997 Illinois Standards to Common Core Standards for Math

Excel file of comparison of goals and descriptors to Common Core and unmatched standards – 242 pages