Process

The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state-led effort, launched more than a year ago by state leaders, including governors and state commissioners of education from 48 states, 2 territories and the District of Columbia, through their membership in the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO).

The process used to write the standards ensured they were informed by:

  • The best state standards;
  • The experience of teachers, content experts, states and leading thinkers; and
  • Feedback from the general public.

To write the standards, the NGA Center and CCSSO brought together content experts, teachers, researchers and others.

The standards have been divided into two categories:

  • College and career readiness standards, which address what students are expected to learn when they have graduated from high school; and 
  • K-12 standards, which address expectations for elementary through high school.

The NGA Center and CCSSO received nearly 10,000 comments on the standards during two public comment periods. Comments, many of which helped shape the final version of the standards, came from teachers, parents, school administrators and other citizens concerned with education policy.

  • The draft college and career ready graduation standards were released for public comment in September 2009; and
  • The draft K-12 standards were released for public comment in March 2010.
  • The final standards were released in June 2010.

An advisory group has provided advice and guidance to shape the initiative. Members of this group include experts from Achieve, Inc., ACT, the College Board, the National Association of State Boards of Education and the State Higher Education Executive Officers.