What is Common Core?
The Common Core State Standards or Common Core or CCSS initiative is a state-led effort led by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers to develop a common core of K-12 standards in English language arts and Mathematics that establishes a single set of educational standards for kindergarten through 12th grade in English language arts and mathematics.
Common Core is intended to cover fewer topics in greater depth at each grade level. In addition to content coverage, the Common Core State Standards require that students systematically acquire knowledge in literature and other disciplines through reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
In Mathematics, the Common Core State Standards lay a solid foundation in: whole numbers; addition; subtraction; multiplication; division; fractions; and decimals. The middle school and high school standards call on students to practice applying mathematical ways of thinking to real world issues and challenges in an attempt to prepare students to think and reason mathematically.
More than 45 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, American Samoan Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands and the Anchorage, AK School District have adopted the standards.
The Common Core is a set of high-quality academic standards in mathematics and English language arts/literacy (ELA). These learning goals outline what a student should know and be able to do at the end of each grade. The standards were created to ensure that all students graduate from high school with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in college, career, and life, regardless of where they live. Forty-five states, the District of Columbia, four territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) have voluntarily adopted and are moving forward with the Common Core.
The Common Core is informed by the highest, most effective standards from states across the United States and countries around the world. The standards define the knowledge and skills students should gain throughout their K-12 education in order to graduate high school prepared to succeed in entry-level careers, introductory academic college courses, and workforce training programs.
The standards are:
- 1.Research- and evidence-based
- 2.Clear, understandable, and consistent
- 3.Aligned with college and career expectations
- 4.Based on rigorous content and application of knowledge through higher-order thinking skills
- 5.Built upon the strengths and lessons of current state standards
- 6.Informed by other top performing countries in order to prepare all students for success in our global economy and society.
