Information for CSR Schools

For general information about CSR, visit the Department of Education website.

Choosing Core Knowledge as a reform model for a Comprehensive School Reform grant

Costs

For a general description of Core Knowledge, click here.

For research results, click here.

Choosing Core Knowledge as a reform model for a Comprehensive School Reform grant

Prior to choosing Core Knowledge as a reform model for a CSR grant, schools should work to obtain support for and a commitment to implement Core Knowledge. In order to do this, we suggest that schools:

1. Research Core Knowledge.
   • Review our website, especially the following pages:
   • About Core Knowledge
   • How to Get Started
   • Professional Development and Training
   • Request a General Information packet from the Core Knowledge Foundation
   • Purchase a copy of the Core Knowledge Sequence: Content Guidelines for Kindergarten through Grade Eight. Share this document with all stakeholders so they can see the contents of the Sequence.
2. Contact the Grant Support Coordinator to see if openings for additional CSR schools exist and to establish an initial relationship with us. (NOTE: We are currently at capacity for middle schools.)
3. Schedule a Core Knowledge Overview. When considering Core Knowledge implementation, schools should schedule an Overview Presentation by the Core Knowledge Foundation. This presentation begins the relationship between your school and the Foundation, helps to answer questions about Core Knowledge, and includes a pre-implementation site visit. (NOTE: Because we are a nonprofit organization and have a small staff, we cannot conduct Overview Presentations free of charge. We charge $500 plus travel-related expenses. When possible, however, we will send a presenter who resides nearby.)
4. Discuss implementation with existing Core Knowledge CSR schools. Visits to existing schools are recommended prior to implementation and are strongly recommended during the first year of implementation. To see Core Knowledge fully implemented, the principal and teacher representatives should visit a school recommended by the Grant Support Coordinator. We will attempt to suggest a school in your area, but some travel may be required. Alternatively, representatives of your school might decide to attend the National Core Knowledge Conference, which offers opportunities to visit local schools and to network with hundreds of teachers and administrators from across the country.
5. Complete a secret ballot vote. After the Overview presentation, we suggest a secret ballot vote to document the level of staff support and buy-in. We require that a school obtain a three-year commitment from at least 80% of the teachers involved in the implementation of Core Knowledge. Teachers are expected to teach all the topics in the Core Knowledge Sequence at the grade levels specified, phasing in topics over two or three years but completing full implementation by the end of the third year. To verify that this level of commitment has been obtained from all involved, the building principal completes and signs the "Documentation of School Support," returning it to the Core Knowledge Foundation after the secret ballot vote.
6. Obtain central office/district-level support. The school will also need the support of its central and/or district office, so a district representative must also sign the "Documentation of School Support," certifying that he or she will be responsible for assisting with quality implementation and evaluation of Core Knowledge and for answering any district-level questions that may arise during the first three years of implementation.
7. Complete the CSR Information Form and the Friend of Core Knowledge School Profile Form.  In order to provide you with the highest quality of support, the grant application process typically takes 3–4 weeks to complete. Please complete this form as soon as you have decided to apply for a CSR grant for Core Knowledge. Within one week of the Core Knowledge Foundation’s receipt of this CSR Information Form, you will receive by e-mail a detailed Memorandum of Understanding and budget proposal.
8. Once the final decision is made to write a CSR grant for Core Knowledge, the Grant Support Coordinator will e-mail or send supporting documents, including:
• Memorandum of Understanding
• Letter of Support
• Parental Involvement Information
• Research Data
• Executive Summary (Core Knowledge Introduction)
• Theoretical research for Core Knowledge
• Information about how Core Knowledge meets the nine components of school reform (soon to be eleven)
• Test Data: studies conducted by John Hopkins University
• List of suggested resources

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Costs

Schools are required to commit to the implementation of Core Knowledge for a minimum of three years. The cost to implement Core Knowledge is determined by the number of staff members and students on a given campus. For a school with 25 teachers and 500 students, estimated costs would be $36,000 for year one, $32,000 for year two, and $32,000 for year three.

These fees cover the following services and materials:

• Leadership training for the principal and Core Knowledge Coordinator (two days, first year)
• Professional development training conducted by Core Knowledge consultants (five days per year)
• Follow-up visits by Core Knowledge consultants (three two-day visits per year)
• School Kit (contains start-up Core Knowledge materials)
• Core Knowledge training materials for teachers (new materials each year)

In addition to the estimated costs, schools are required to:

• purchase the Pearson Learning/Core Knowledge History and Geography textbooks (grades K–6)
• allocate a minimum of $1,000 per teacher for Core Knowledge related materials per year
• allocate a minimum of $8 per student in grades 1-5 for administration and scoring of Questar Assessment's Core Knowledge Curriculum-Referenced Tests.
• purchase the Baltimore Curriculum Project lesson plans

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Last updated: Fri, May 23 2008