Today’s students are preparing to enter a world in which colleges and businesses are demanding more than ever before. To ensure all students are ready for success after high school, the Common Core State Standards establish clear, consistent guidelines for what every student should know and be able to do in math and English language arts from kindergarten through 12th grade.
The standards were drafted by experts and teachers from across the country and are designed to ensure students are prepared for today’s entry-level careers, freshman-level college courses, and workforce training programs. The Common Core focuses on developing the critical-thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills students will need to be successful. Forty-three states, the District of Columbia, four territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) have voluntarily adopted and are moving forward with the standards.
The new standards also provide a way for teachers to measure student progress throughout the school year and ensure that students are on the pathway to success in their academic careers.
Interested in learning more about the Common Core and the skills that students need to succeed?
- Find out what your state is doing to implement the standards, support teachers, and more on our “Standards in Your State” page.
- Learn more about how the Common Core was developed at our “About the Standards” page.
- See what’s different about the Common Core compared to previous state standards at “Key Shifts in Mathematics” and “Key Shifts in English Language Arts” pages.
- Get the facts about the Common Core on our “Myths vs. Facts” page.
- Get more answers on our “Frequently Asked Questions” page.