Iowa Core Curriculum

Thanks for visiting the Iowa Department of Education's Iowa Core Curriculum website! Here are a few tips about the site and how to make your visit easier.

Left-hand Side: Navigation
One way users can navigate the site is by using the menu on the left side of the page. This menu includes the five content areas (literacy, mathematics, science, social studies and 21st century skills) included in the Iowa Core Curriculum.

Select a content area from the menu on the left side of the page.
Select a choice from the second level of navigation, which will automatically appear.
Choose a "grade " or "grade span" to see the specific results for that "grade" or "grade span."

The essential concepts and skills of the Iowa Core Curriculum are presented in grade spans, while the content standards and performance standards are listed for selected individual grades. Only the "grades" or "grade spans" where information is available will be listed in the dropdown menu on the left side of the page. Once a "grade" or grade span" is selected the results of the request will be listed in the center of the page.

If the resulting items have additional details available an icon will appear next to the items in the list. Click on the icon to reveal the details for individual items listed or select "View All" to see all of the details for the whole list. It is also possible to "Collapse All" the list items.

The site also provides breadcrumb navigation at the top of the central area of each page. The purpose of the breadcrumb is to show how pages are categorized on the site allowing users to retrace their steps.

Right-hand Side: Search
The right side of the page is devoted to searching the site content in a way the user determines. The content of the site can be searched in one of two ways

a combination of content areas, disciplines, and grades or
keyword(s).

The content filter and the keyword search functions work independent of each other. Users cannot use the two ways of searching the site at the same time. If a user enters any information into the keyword search box it will disable the content filter fields. To re-enable the user needs to delete the content in the keyword text field.

Printing

To print individual pages of the site, select the print button located in the upper right side of the page.
For the content areas of literacy, mathematics, and science, a complete document containing all of the information is available by clicking the download button in the upper right side of the page. Documents for social studies and 21st century skills will be added as they become available.

Questions about the Iowa Core Curriculum
Use the Contact Us link at the bottom of the page for a listing of Department and AEA contacts working with the Iowa Core Curriculum.

Website Feedback
Use the Website Feedback link at the bottom of the page to provide feedback or report problems experienced fining information on the Iowa Core Curriculum website.

Still need help?
Email Lisa Albers at lisa.albers@iowa.gov for additional help.

Search:

Content Areas:

Discipline:

Grade:

Keyword(s):

Highlights

Common Core Standards Adopted as Part of Iowa Core

The State Board of Education voted 6-0 on July 29, 2010 to adopt the Common Core State Standards as part of the Iowa Core. The standards cover the areas of English language arts and mathematics only. With this adoption, the literacy and math sections of the Iowa Core will be adjusted to include Common Core.

Please be aware that the literacy and math sections of this website do not currently reflect the change. Work is being done to update this website.

It should be noted that:

The Iowa Department of Education conducted a formal alignment study—or comparison—of both the Common Core and the Iowa Core. The study results show a high level of correspondence between the Iowa Core to the Common Core.
In addition, all states are allowed to keep 15 percent of their own English language arts and math standards—in our case the Iowa Core in literacy and math. The Iowa Department of Education will identify essential concepts and skills from the Iowa Core to include as part of the 15 percent. These will be brought to the State Board of Education in September or October for review and possible approval.
While the Common Core has been adopted as part of the Iowa Core, the work Iowa school districts are currently doing to implement the Iowa Core will not change significantly.

For more information on:

the State Board’s actions: http://www.iowa.gov/educate/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2025:state-board-of-education-adopts-common-core-state-standards&catid=666:highlights
the alignment study:http://www.iowa.gov/educate/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=9840&Itemid=1507
the Common Core State Standards Initiative:http://www.corestandards.org/the-standards
Common Core State Standards and Iowa Fact Sheet

What is the purpose of the Iowa Core Curriculum website?

The purpose of this site is to help Iowans better understand the statewide academic expectations for K-12 students.This is the official site for the Iowa Core Curriculum and provides information on the state's core content standards.

Come back often to experience new content and learn about Iowa’s world-class education.

What does the website have to offer?

The website offers a look at the academic expectations of the Iowa Core Curriculum and Iowa’s core content standards — or “what” students should know. It also provides performance standards — or “how well” students should perform in certain areas.

Navigate through the essential concepts and skills of the Iowa Core Curriculum by content areas using the menu on the left side of the page.
Search the site's content in a way the user determines using the box located at the right side of the page.
Download full Iowa Core Curriculum documents for literacy, mathematics, science and social studies by using the Download icon at the top of section pages. A 21st Century Skills document will be posted when it becomes available.

Grade Spans in the Iowa Core Curriculum
The Iowa Core Curriculum presents the most important concepts and skills that students should learn in grade spans, such as K-2. This was done to honor the individual needs of students. The Iowa Core Curriculum sets high expectations for all students and respects that students will progress differently through the grade spans. The person closest to a student in school — the classroom teacher — is in the best position to determine the pace and rigor of learning for the student. Grade spans allow classroom teachers to reinforce and build upon previously mastered concepts and skills, and provide the most appropriate learning experiences for students to successfully progress through grade levels. Local school administrators and classroom teachers can provide more information about the specific content and skills taught at each level in their school.

What is the Iowa Core Curriculum?

Research shows that high expectations are a critical ingredient in improving student performance and ensuring student success beyond high school. The Iowa Core Curriculum provides a guide to delivering challenging and meaningful content to students that prepares them for success in life.The Iowa Core Curriculum identifies essential concepts and skills for kindergarten through 12th grade in literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, and 21st century skills. It also includes direction for teachers regarding effective instruction and assessment. It takes learning to a deeper level by moving students beyond superficial knowledge to deep conceptual and procedural knowledge. It also enhances student engagement by emphasizing interesting, robust, and relevant learning experiences. The 2008 legislative session, through Senate File 2216, requires all school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to implement the Iowa Core Curriculum (July 1, 2012 for grades 9 through 12 and 2014-15 for kindergarten through 8th grade).

What will it offer Iowa students?
The intent of the Iowa Core Curriculum is to ensure that all Iowa students have access to the challenging and meaningful curriculum that prepares them for success in postsecondary education and the emerging global economy.

What will it offer Iowa educators?
The intent of the Iowa Core Curriculum is to provide a tool for Iowa school districts and educators to use in assuring that essential subject matter is being taught and essential knowledge and skills are being learned. The Iowa Core Curriculum also provides a foundation for school districts to implement graduation requirements more effectively and meaningfully.

What is a parent or community member's role?
The full picture of the Iowa Core Curriculum is one that includes communities and schools working together to support this historic endeavor. It galvanizes action to improve teaching and learning by encouraging educators, parents, and community members to strive toward a common goal of increasing student achievement and preparing students for the 21st century.