The release of the standards marks the conclusion of the development of the Common Core State Standards and signals the start of the adoption and implementation process by the states.  The year-long process was led by governors and chief state school officers in 48 states, 2 territories and the District of Columbia.

“American competitiveness relies on an education system that can adequately prepare our youth for college and the workforce,” commented Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue.  “When American students have the skills and knowledge needed in today’s jobs, our communities will be positioned to compete successfully in the global economy.”

In California, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell urged support of the newly released standards.

“The rigorous, internationally competitive common core standards will help better prepare California students for success in the increasingly competitive global economy,” O’Connell said.  “These standards will help us improve instruction and student performance by making more focused and explicit the knowledge and skills students need to know as they move up the grades.  This will better prepare students for successful mastery of more complex and advanced concepts and applications required for success in high school and later in college and careers.  This clearly defined and well-articulated ‘staircasing’ of student skills will help accelerate improvement in student performance and close the achievement gap,” he said.

O’Connell added that “California’s current standards were adopted in 1997.  Over the past 13 years the world has changed in profound ways. We have made amazing technological advances that connect us to every corner of the globe.  The world is indeed flat.  By adopting such curriculum standards, California can choose to look to the future and build upon what is the best of our own current – and considerable – standards with the best of what other states and high-performing countries offer their students. To provide our students with less only shortchanges their future and that of our state and nation.”

In Sacramento, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued a statement as well, saying “California leads the nation with our rigorous academic standards, and I am committed to ensuring these standards are upheld.  The Common Core Standards released today set a high, though minimum, bar for all states to reach in K-12 educational content to help ensure that every student is college and career ready.  I created the Academic Content Standards Commission to consider the Common Core Standards and make a recommendation for policy changes to ensure all of California’s standards are as rigorous as or more rigorous than those laid out in Common Core.  My appointments to the Standards Commission will be made this week, and my Administration looks forward to receiving their recommendation.”

Craig Barrett, former CEO and Chairman of the Board of Intel Corporation, said “Common education standards are essential for producing the educated work force America needs to remain globally competitive.  This voluntary state-lead effort will help ensure that all students can receive the college- and career-ready, world-class education they deserve, no matter where they live.  I applaud the states’ efforts that got us here today and the work of the National Governor’s Association, the Council of Chief State School Officers and Achieve, Inc. in supporting this important achievement.”

To read the Common Core State Standards in their newly revised form, click here.

Sources:  National Governor’s Association, California Department of Education, Governor’s Press Office