Why are common standards needed?
The Common Core State Standards are needed to ensure that regardless of where a student lives they will be prepared for postsecondary education or to enter the workforce. Having standards shared by the majority of the states in our country means that if a family moves from one city to another, or one state to another, that their child/children will receive a consistent, high quality education.
Who wrote the Common Core State Standards?
Members of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center), school administrators, teachers, parents, and experts in education from across the United States worked together to develop the Common Core State Standards. Public feedback was also collected on draft of the standards and was incorporated into the final version of the CCSS.
What grades are included in the Common Core State Standards?
The standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics are for Kindergarten through the 12th grade.
Will students in Connecticut still be required to take the Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT) and the Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT)?
The CMTs and the CAPTs will be replaced in the 2014-2015 school year by assessments being developed now based on the new standards. The assessments for Connecticut are being developed by the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium.
Do the Common Core State Standards provide information on instructional interventions?
The CCSS set grade-specific standards. They do not provide intervention methods or materials necessary to support students who are well below or well above grade-level expectations.
