This week the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) released a set of state-led education standards, the Common Core State Standards.

The standards built on the foundation of standards states have set. The standards were developed on behalf of 48 states, two territories, and the District of Columbia.

The standards are:

• Aligned with college and work expectations;
• Clear, understandable and consistent;
• Include rigorous content and application of knowledge through high-order skills;
• Build upon strengths and lessons of current state standards;
• Informed by other top performing countries, so that all students are prepared to succeed in our global economy and society; and
• Evidence- and research-based.

The release of the standards signals the start of the adoption and implementation process by the states.  In the coming months, each state will follow its own procedures and processes for adoption of the Common Core State Standards.