NJDOE+Revised+Core+Curriculum+Standards

NJDOE News Kathryn Forsyth Rich Vespucci Beth Auerswald 609-292-1126** = **“The release of the 2009 curriculum revisions brings New Jersey one step closer to ensuring that students are prepared better for the world that awaits them after high school.” Imagine the learning that could take place if students are empowered to use technology to contact their peers across the globe for a long-term project examining the lack of clean drinking water in many countries,” said Commissioner Davy. “It not only would be a lesson in math and science, but students would learn how to communicate with people from other cultures – a skill set they most certainly will need as working adults in a global economy."** = []
 * For More Information Contact the Public Information Office:
 * For Immediate Release: February 6, 2009**

The Core Curriculum Content Standards cite the vital importance of the 21st century skills necessary to better prepare students for success in the global economy.
 * Revised Core Curriculum Content Standards Posted for Public Review**

The nine CCCS, which outline what students should know and be able to do at grade levels, must be revised every five years by the State Department of Education and adopted by the State Board of Education to ensure they remain current and contain the academic rigor appropriate for preschool through grade 12.

The revised standards are designed to infuse real-world skills into the state’s existing curriculum models in the nine content areas – **//Language Arts Literacy, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, World Languages, Technological Literacy, Visual and Performing Arts, Comprehensive Health and Physical Education, Career Education and Consumer, Family and Life Skills//** – and to implement many instructional elements of DOE’s high school transformation effort.

“All New Jersey children deserve the opportunity to enter the workforce or college already equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive, with the use of project-based learning to give students a broader understanding of the skills and concepts being taught.", said Commissioner Davy. Major CCCS changes proposed this year include:
 * **All content standards** now require the infusion of interdisciplinary connections, technology and global awareness.
 * The revised standard nine, **21st Century Life and Careers,** includes new standards on life and career skills and personal financial literacy designed to help students in all grades learn about money, credit and debt management and planning, savings and investing, and a new career and technical education standard.
 * The **Math** standard incorporates best practices from other states and countries where students have shown high levels of achievement.
 * The **Language Arts Literacy** standard adds a focus on the use of digital technologies in reading, writing, listening, speaking and viewing. It also incorporates world literature to develop students’ cross-cultural perspectives of authors and audiences from other regions of the world.

“New Jersey’s business community expects high school graduates who possess the communication, problem-solving and technology skills necessary to help their companies prosper and grow in a competitive economy,” the Commissioner said. “Infusing 21st century skills into existing curriculum standards is the cornerstone to transforming New Jersey’s high schools into institutions that better prepare students to meet real-world expectations.” The revised standards are available on DOE’s Web site at [|www.state.nj.us/education/aps].