Distinguished - Comprehensively describes the Standards for Mathematics and English Language Arts, and fully summarizes the Common Core State Standards initiative including the purpose and academic impact.

Proficient - Describes the Standards for Mathematics and English Language Arts, and summarizes the Common Core State Standards initiative including the purpose and academic impact. The description or the summary is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially describes the Standards for Mathematics and English Language Arts, and minimally summarizes the Common Core State Standards initiative including the purpose and academic impact. The description and/or the summary are underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe the Standards for Mathematics and English Language Arts, and summarize the Common Core State Standards initiative including the purpose and academic impact; however, the description and the summary are significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The description of the Standards for Mathematics and English Language Arts, and the summary of the Common Core State Standards initiative are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly discusses how differentiated instruction is an essential strategy for the CCSS.

Proficient - Discusses how differentiated instruction is an essential strategy for the CCSS. The discussion is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Somewhat discusses how differentiated instruction is an essential strategy for the CCSS. The discussion is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to discuss how differentiated instruction is an essential strategy for the CCSS; however, the discussion is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The discussion of how differentiated instruction is an essential strategy for the CCSS is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Provides an exceptionally clear and focused explanation of five or more differentiated strategies, tools, or activities that will support teachers’ implementation of the CCSS for Mathematics and English Language Arts.

Proficient - Provides an explanation of five differentiated strategies, tools, or activities that will support teachers’ implementation of the CCSS for Mathematics and English Language Arts. The explanation is slightly unclear.

Basic - Provides a limited explanation of five differentiated strategies, tools, or activities that will support teachers’ implementation of the CCSS for Mathematics and English Language Arts. The explanation is unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide an explanation of fewer than five differentiated strategies, tools, or activities that will support teachers’ implementation of the CCSS; however, the explanation is significantly unclear.

Non-Performance - The explanation of five or more differentiated strategies, tools, or activities that will support teachers’ implementation of the CCSS for Mathematics and English Language Arts is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Displays meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains no errors and is very easy to understand.

Proficient - Displays comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains only a few minor errors and is mostly easy to understand.

Basic - Displays basic comprehension of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains a few errors which may slightly distract the reader.

Below Expectations - Fails to display basic comprehension of syntax or mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains major errors which distract the reader.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - Uses more than the required number of scholarly sources, providing compelling evidence to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.

Proficient - Uses the required number of scholarly sources to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.

Basic - Uses less than the required number of sources to support ideas. Some sources may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are used within the body of the assignment. Citations may not be formatted correctly.

Below Expectations - Uses an inadequate number of sources that provide little or no support for ideas. Sources used may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are not used within the body of the assignment. Citations are not formatted correctly.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - Accurately uses APA formatting consistently throughout the paper, title page, and reference page.

Proficient - Exhibits APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout contains a few minor errors. 

Basic - Exhibits limited knowledge of APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout does not meet all APA requirements. 

Below Expectations - Fails to exhibit basic knowledge of APA formatting. There are frequent errors, making the layout difficult to distinguish as APA.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - The length of the paper is equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages. 

Proficient - The length of the paper is nearly equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages. 

Basic - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least three quarters of the required number of correctly formatted pages.

Below Expectations - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least one half of the required number of correctly formatted pages.   

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.