NGA and CCSSO collaborate to develop common core state standards

The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a joint effort by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) in partnership with Achieve, ACT and the College Board. Governors and state commissioners of education from across the country committed to joining a state-led process to develop a common core of state standards in English-language arts and mathematics for grades K-12. These standards will be research and evidence-based, internationally benchmarked, aligned with college and work expectations and include rigorous content and skills. The NGA Center and CCSSO are coordinating the process to develop these standards and have created an expert validation committee to provide an independent review of the common core state standards, as well as the grade-by-grade standards. The college and career ready standards are expected to be completed in July 2009. The grade-by-grade standards work is expected to be completed in December 2009.

New Core Standards Website

The National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State Schools Officers announced a new website for information on all things related to core standards — www.corestandards.org. The new site provides a few pieces of interesting information, including a tentative development schedule and those involved with its development.

Consistency of State Standards

Forty six (46) states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have agreed to collaborate to develop a common core of consistent state standards that are fewer, clearer, and higher; internationally benchmarked; and aligned with college and work. The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers on June 1 released the names of the states and territories that have joined the initiative: Alabama; Arizona; Arkansas; California; Colorado; Connecticut; Delaware; District of Columbia; Florida; Georgia; Hawaii; Idaho; Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Kansas; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; Minnesota; Mississippi; Montana; Nebraska; Nevada; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New Mexico; New York; North Carolina; North Dakota; Ohio; Oklahoma; Oregon; Pennsylvania; Puerto Rico; Rhode Island; South Dakota; Tennessee; Utah; Vermont; Virgin Islands; Virginia; Washington; West Virginia; Wisconsin; and Wyoming. NGA and CCSSO expect to release a first draft of the end of the high school standards in July followed by grade by grade standards in December 2009 or January 2010.