Payson Roundup

PHOENIX — Tom Horne, State Superintendent of Schools announced today that the Council of Chief School State Officers (CCSSO) and the National Governor’s Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) released the first public draft of the K-12 Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics. The public is invited to review and provide feedback.

The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a process being led by governors and chief state school officers in 51 states, territories, and the District of Columbia. These draft standards, developed together with teachers, school administrators and experts, seek to provide a clear and consistent framework to prepare our children for college and the workforce. The goal is to create consistent and clear standards, so that all students understand what is expected of them and so that teachers and parents know what they need to do to help students learn. Common Core State Standards are designed to be relevant, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success.

CCSSO and NGA Center have received feedback from national organizations representing, but not limited to teachers, postsecondary education (including community colleges), civil rights groups, English language learners, and students with disabilities. The NGA Center and CCSSO encourage those interested in the standards to provide further feedback by Friday, April 2, at www.corestandards.org.

For more information about the Common Core State Standards, go to www.azed.gov and under Hot Topics, click on the link for Common Core State Standards.