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What are the Common Core State Standards?

The goal of the Common Core State Standards is to provide a clear, consistent understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that young people need for success in college and careers. 

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) Initiative is a state-led process to develop a common core of state standards in English-language arts and mathematics for grades K-12.

What are the new assessment consortia?

The U.S. Department of Education awarded grants to two consortia to develop assessment systems focused on the CCSS:

• The SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC), working on online exams, received $176 million.
• The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC), working on assessments in English and math, received $186 million.

NEA is committed to this project

NEA believes that this work on Common Standards has the potential to provide teachers with more manageable curriculum goals. Their broadness allows teachers to exercise professional judgment in planning instruction that promotes student success. Read about NEA’s involvement in this project.

NEA Common Core State Standards Toolkit

These resources are designed to give educators the tools they will need to effectively prepare for the implementation of Common Core State Standards.

Download the toolkit here (pdf)

 

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.