Common Core Learning Standards

New York adopted the Common Core State Standards – national academic standards developed by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers – along with a small set of additional standards in January 2011. Together, the two groups of standards create New York’s Common Core Learning Standards (CCLS). Implementation of the new standards began in the 2012-2013 school year.

The Common Core Learning Standards are a set of clear guidelines showing what students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 should be able to do in reading, writing, speaking and listening, language and mathematics. With these standards, students start by learning basic skills in early grades and build up to mastering more difficult skills and concepts.

By having common standards, all students across the state — and across the country —should have the opportunity to learn the same skills. In the past, every state had its own set of academic standards, meaning U.S. students were learning different skills and concepts at different rates. The Common Core Standards give all students an equal opportunity to learn at higher levels. In turn, pupils should graduate with a greater chance to succeed in college, careers and life.

Understanding New York State’s Common Core Standards: A Toolkit for Parents and Families

An important component of a student’s success in school is dependent on what and how they learn at home. The Toolkit for Parents and Families is a collection of materials and resources that will help parents and families understand the New York State education reform initiatives known as the Common Core Standards.