What Is the Common Core Standards Initiative?

Instructor: Carrie Soucy

The Common Core Standards Initiative aims to create a national educational standard for elementary and secondary schools. Read on to learn about Common Core Standards, and to explore resources for educators charged with implementing the intiative.

About the Common Core Standards Initiative

The Common Core Standards Initiative is a state-led drive to standardize educational goals so all U.S. high school graduates are properly prepared for college or careers in the global economy. The initiative was devised by a coalition of governors, state education leaders and researchers who reviewed the standards of individual U.S. states and those of other countries in creating the Common Core Standards.

Common Core Standards in the Classroom

The majority of U.S. states are implementing the standards in their schools. The developers of Common Core Standards emphasize that the standards are not a curriculum but an over-arching, grade-by-grade educational framework. Educators in the participating states, therefore, may devise their own curricula to achieve the standardized objectives. While Common Core standards are designed to be more straightforward than previous state standards, in many states, they also may be more arduous and require educators to overhaul both their teaching methods and their lesson plans.

Common Core Standards: At a Glance

Subject	Emphasis
Mathematics	A logical, grade-by-grade learning progression of the key fundamental skills, and the practical application of mathematical concepts.
English Language Arts	Comprehension and evidence-based interpretation of increasingly complex informational and literary texts from kindergarten through grade 12.

Resources for Teachers

Study.com offers educators several online resources to help them not only understand Common Core Standards, but also design lesson plans that address these new standards. Common Core Standards by State provides an overview of how individual states are implementing the standards. For examples of Study.com courses that provide teachers with supplemental classroom materials, short instructional videos and student assignments, explore:

Description

Summary:

Visit the Common Core Math - Algebra: High School Standards page to learn more.

Earning Credit

Earning College Credit

Did you know… We have over 200 college courses that prepare you to earn credit by exam that is accepted by over 1,500 colleges and universities. You can test out of the first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. Anyone can earn credit-by-exam regardless of age or education level.

To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page

Transferring credit to the school of your choice

Not sure what college you want to attend yet? Study.com has thousands of articles about every imaginable degree, area of study and career path that can help you find the school that's right for you.