Common Core State Standards

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.

For more information about what is NEA doing visit,  http://www.nea.org/home/46653.htm