Common Core: Preparing 21st Century Talent

With a lot of debate recently about common core education standards, it’s good to step back and remember how this initiative came about. 

Basically, common core standards are a set of national education standards that establish what students should know by each grade level and subject.

Initially researched and developed by the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), the standards were independently adopted by 45 states and the District of Columbia. Point being, it was developed by states in conjunction with teachers and other educational leaders.

The purpose behind common core is to create a high set of national standards to ensure our students can compete in the global economy. Still, many myths about the development and implementation of the standards remain– chief among them that Common Core was pushed by the federal government – which it wasn’t.

What’s more, in Connecticut, the common core initiative often gets associated with other education reform policies that were adopted around the same time. For example, the Common Core initiative is distinct from the state’s new teacher evaluation system. 

The Common core will bring consistency to standards across the country so a high school diploma will mean the same thing in every state. This means employers can be confident that graduating students have the skills to meet their needs.

Common core standards were developed with teachers, and with students in mind. We must remember that the basic goal is to make sure our children and grandchildren are ready for the 21^st century economy.

For more information, contact CBIA’s Jennifer Herz at 860.244.1921 | jennifer.herz@cbia.com | @CBIAjherz