The CCSS are designed to help ensure that all students are college and career ready in literacy no later than the end of high school. The rigor and complexity of the standards therefore increase as students enter middle and high school.

The tri-fold laminated reference guide Common Core Standards and English Language Arts (Grades 6-12) by Toby Karten presents an at-a-glance overview of the CCSS for English Language Arts (ELA) for students in grades 6-12. It is intended to help middle and high school teachers understand the organization and application of the standards for diverse students, including those with special needs.

Topics covered in the guide include:

... Challenges of the cross-disciplinary design of CCSS for ELA at the secondary level

... College and career readiness (CCR)

... CCR anchor standards for reading: literature (RL) and informational text (RI)

... CCR anchor standards for writing (W)

... CCR anchor standards for speaking and listening (SL)

... CCR anchor standards for language (L)

... Differentiating instruction for students at different reading levels

... Models for measuring and evaluating text complexity

... Strategies for helping students with disabilities achieve ELA standards

The CCSS for ELA raise the bar to ensure students master the reading, writing, speaking and listening, and language skills they need to be college and career ready in literacy. They will yield effective outcomes for all students--including those with disabilities--if educators creatively and consistently embrace them and connect them to all of their students.

6 pages. 2014