Utah is one of over 40 states and territories that have agreed to transition their core standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics to a set of standards common to all states. This “Common Core” initiative is organized and supported by the National Governor’s Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO).
The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state-led effort to establish a shared set of clear educational standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics. These have been informed by the best available evidence and the highest state standards across the country and globe.
The Utah State Office of Education has put together a list of frequently asked questions and answers about the common core. The list can be found here.
Why A Common Core?
Common standards will help ensure students are receiving a high quality education consistently from school to school and state to state.
We need college and career ready standards. Data shows that even in high-performing states students are graduating and passing all the required tests and still require remediation in their post-secondary work.
We need students moving from our colleges and universities into the workplace, ready to compete in the emerging global marketplace.
What Is The Common Core?
Content Literacy in Social Studies/History, Science, Technical Subjects
How Was the Common Core Developed?
The Standards made careful use of a large and growing body of evidence. This evidence included scholarly research; surveys on what skills are required of students entering college and workforce training programs; assessment data identifying college and career ready performance; and comparisons to standards from high-performing states and nations.
According to the National Governors Association and Council of Chief State School Officers, “the standards are not intended to be new names for old ways of doing business. They are a call to take the next step. It is time for states to work together to build on lessons learned from two decades of standards-based reforms.”
Strengths of the New Core
- Aligned with expectations for college & career success
- Consistent across all states
- Includes both content and application of knowledge through high-order thinking skills
- Informed by other top performing countries, so that all students are prepared to succeed in our global economy and society
For More Information…
Common Core Resources
Utah State Office of Education information for parents
Parents’ Guide to Student Success
To better understand the Common Core
Secondary Math 1
Secondary Math 2
Secondary Math 3
Secondary Math Course Offerings
9th & 10th Grade
11th & 12th Grade
College & Career Readiness Standards