GENE WILHOIT, CCSSODANE LINN, NGA CENTER

May 9, 2011

Common Core State Standards Initiative

State-led and developed standards for grades K-12 in English language arts and mathematics

Led by Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center)

42 states and DC have fully adopted the Common Core State Standards; 1 state has provisionally adopted the standards; and 1 state has adopted the ELA standards only.

Why do we need common standards? Why now?

Disparate standards across statesGlobal competitionToday’s jobs require different skills

For many young people, a high school degree isn’t preparing them

for college or a good job.

Standards Development Process

College- and career-readiness standards for English language arts and mathematics developed summer of 2009

Based on the college and career readiness standards, K-12 standards for each grade were developed

Standards Development ProcessExternal and State Feedback teams included:

Postsecondary Faculty K-12 Faculty and staff State curriculum and assessments experts Researchers National Organizations (including, but not

limited, to): American Council on Education (ACE) American Mathematics Association of

Two Year Colleges (AMATYC) Mathematics Association of America

(MAA) National Council of Teachers of

Mathematics (NCTM)

Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences (CBMS)

American Statistical Association (ASA) Modern Language Association (MLA) National Council of Teachers of

English (NCTE)

College-Ready Definition

Prepare students for success in entry-level, credit-bearing, academic

college courses (2 and 4 year postsecondary institutions) in domains of reading, writing,

speaking, listening, language, and mathematics

Why is this important for higher education?

Lower remediation rates Reduces costs for IHEs and increases likelihood of graduation

Leverage Points

Tighter link for students between high school and post-secondary education

Tighter link for teachers between pre-service education and the classroom

www.corestandards.org