History. The Common Core State Standards (also known as CCSS) was a joint effort by the National Governors’ Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) www.nga.org and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) www.ccsso.org in partnership with Achieve, ACT, and the College Board.
The Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects (“the Standards”) are the culmination of an extended, broad-based effort to fulfill the charge issued by the states to create the next generation of K–12 standards in order to help ensure that all students are college and career ready in literacy no later than the end of high school.
The present work, led by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and the National Governors Association (NGA), builds on the foundation laid by states in their decades-long work on crafting high-quality education standards. The Standards also draw on the most important international models as well as research and input from numerous sources, including state departments of education, scholars, assessment developers, professional organizations, educators from kindergarten through college, and parents, students, and other members of the public.
CCSS in Practice. The focus has shifted to achievements rather than means, which allows teachers to use whatever tools their classrooms respond to best and to determine how those goals should be reached and what additional topics should be addressed. In addition to the traditional subjects of Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, research and media skills blended into the Standards because students living in this technological society need to the ability to gather, comprehend, evaluate, and report on information as well as do original research in order to answer questions and solve problems.
The Standards insists that instructions in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language to be a shared responsibility amongst all disciplines. Research has established the need for college and career-ready students to be proficient in reading complex text independently in a variety of content areas. To strengthen these skills, the CCSS creates a focus and coherence in instruction and assessment so that each class builds upon the last.
Issues Not Covered by CCSS. These Standards are expected to be administered in conjunction with a well-developed, content-rich curriculum to address issues that will arise in school. These Standards were not developed to instruct teachers on which methods to use or what can and should be taught their students. The Standards do not define the nature of advanced work for students who meet the Standards prior to high school. Nor do the Standards set grade-specific intervention or materials necessary to assist struggling students.
Additional Details. You’ll find videos as well as downloadable PDFs at the New York State Board of Education website provides a complete overview of the CCSS for English, Mathematics and PreKindergarten.
