State Board Approves Common Core State Standards

Members of the State Board of Education today approved the K-12 Common Core State Standards for mathematics and English language arts to better prepare Idaho students for the 21st century.

The standards will now go to the Idaho Legislature in January for final approval. If adopted, the new standards will go into effect in the 2013-2014 school year.

“We must ensure we build a public education system that prepares all students to be successful in life after high school. Idaho students are ready for this challenge,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna said.

Idaho initially signed on to the Common Core State Standards Initiative in June 2009. The final standards were published in June 2010.

Adopting the Common Core State Standards is voluntary.  Thirty-eight states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands have already adopted the Common Core State Standards. Neighboring states Oregon, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming have all adopted these standards.

Staff from the State Department of Education traveled across the state in June and in September hosting two series of regional public meetings to explain the Common Core State Standards and to gather feedback.  The Department also hosted official public hearings in each region across Idaho throughout October.

The Common Core State Standards Initiative builds directly on previous efforts of leading organizations and states that have focused on developing college- and career-ready standards. These standards define the knowledge and skills students should have within their K-12 education careers so that they will graduate from high school able to succeed beyond high school in post-secondary education and the workforce.

Specifically, the standards:

• Are aligned with college and workforce expectations;
• Are clear, understandable and consistent;
• Include rigorous content and application of knowledge through high-order skills;
• Build upon strengths and lessons of current state standards;
• Are informed by standards in other top-performing countries, so that all students are prepared to succeed in our global economy and society; and
• Are evidence-based.

Learn more about the Common Core State Standards and how they compare to Idaho’s current standards on the State Department of Education’s website.  Be sure to let us know if you have any questions!

~ Melissa M.