State Board of Education adopts Common Core Standards

 

The State Board of Education at its June 15 meeting unanimously adopted the Common Core Standards – a set of rigorous, college and career-ready K-12 curriculum standards that states across the nation are considering adopting to bring consistency in education across the states.

With this action, Michigan is the first state to formally adopt the final Common Core Standards that are internationally benchmarked in English Language Arts and mathematics, formalizing Michigan’s agreement to integrate the standards into the state’s public education system. 

“This is an historic moment for Michigan,” said State Board of Education President Kathleen N. Straus.  “With the implementation of the Common Core State Standards, teachers and administrators will have an instructional blueprint to ensure all Michigan students are college and career-ready.”

The Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSSI) is a state-led effort coordinated by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) involving the Governors and state commissioners of education from 48 states, two territories and the District of Columbia, committed to developing a common core of state standards in English Language Arts and mathematics for grades K-12. 

“Michigan has been a national leader in the development of rigorous academic standards,” said Mike Flanagan, State Superintendent of Public Instruction.  “The adoption of these standards will for the first time provide states with clear and consistent educational goals and represent a logical next step in our state’s efforts to embrace high learning.”

The standards have been guided by the best available evidence and the highest standards across the country and globe and were designed by a diverse group of teachers, experts, parents, and school administrators, so they reflect both real world requirements and the realities of the classroom.

The Common Core State Standards:

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

Michigan’s K-8 grade level content expectations and high school content expectations are closely aligned to the Common Core State Standards, which will minimize instructional changes and adjustments.

To help teachers successfully implement the standards, the Michigan Department of Education, Intermediate School Districts and other partner groups will provide support and training starting in the fall of 2010.  Teachers will begin to provide instruction related to the standards by the fall of 2012.  It is anticipated that students will be assessed on the Common Core Standards beginning in 2014.

The Common Core State Standards will enable participating states to:

• Describe to parents, teachers, and the general public expectations for students.
• Align textbooks, digital media and curricula to the internationally benchmarked standards.
• Ensure professional development for educators is based on identified need and best practices.
• Develop and implement an assessment system to measure student performance against the common core state standards.
• Evaluate policy changes needed to help students and educators meet the common core state college and career readiness standards.

More information about the Common Core State Standards initiative, including key points for both English language arts and mathematics, is available at http://www.corestandards.org/.