Common core can lead to uncommon results.

• Position: YOUR LIFE

Through Common Core state assessments, children in elementary and middle schools are being held to new, more rigorous standards for math and English language arts. Yet, these new policies have been met with both mixed reviews and results.

To gain a better understanding of conditions that result in better student achievement outcomes, researchers at the University at Albany's School of Education evaluated the impact of Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and the new Annual Performance Review System. Specifically, they looked to identify characteristics of high-performing schools, using Common Core measures such as ELA and mathematics test scores.

They compared schools where students consistently do well on annual high-stakes tests, to those where students get average results. In total, they studied 18 schools; 12 considered "odds-beating" and six considered "typically performing." The following six key elements were identified as best practices that distinguish "odds-beatings" schools:

A stable, committed workforce. More than 70% of those in "odds-beating" schools indicated that they had worked at the school/district for more than five years. Overall turnover rates averaged about two percent lower than the state average.

Proactive, adaptive leadership. District and building leaders use a combination of top-down and bottom-up strategies. They are tight on implementation mandates, but loose on performance adaptations in classrooms. They also anticipate and provide resources for adult...