English Language Arts Standards

The Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (ELA) and Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects are designed to help students succeed in college, career, and life by the time they graduate from high school.

The Common Core encourages students to read stories and literature, as well as more complex informational texts from subjects like science and social studies. By asking students to answer questions and think critically about what they’ve read, the standards help build essential skills in problem-solving, analysis, and critical thinking—skills needed for success beyond school.

The standards provide clear guidelines for developing literacy skills in ELA and in other subjects like history, science, and technical fields. Students need to read, write, speak, listen, and use language effectively across a wide range of content areas, and these standards support the development of those skills in all disciplines.

The College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards serve as the foundation of the ELA/literacy standards by outlining the core skills students need to succeed. Grade-specific standards add further details to guide learning at each level. Starting in grade 6, the literacy standards allow teachers in subjects like history, science, and technical fields to help students improve their reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language skills within their specific subjects.

It's important to note that the literacy standards for grades 6–12 in subjects like history and science are meant to support, not replace, the content standards already in place for those subjects. States can choose how to integrate these literacy standards with their existing ones or adopt them as literacy standards for those areas.

The skills and knowledge outlined in the ELA/literacy standards are designed to prepare students for life outside the classroom. They emphasize critical thinking and close reading, helping students understand and appreciate complex texts. Students will also learn to use reasoning and evidence to make strong arguments, essential skills for success in both college and the workplace. The standards paint a picture of what it means to be a literate person in the 21^st century, fully prepared for the challenges ahead.