1. Achieve American Council on Education
Common Core State Standards
What are They? And What
Could They Mean to You?
Achieve American Council on Education
May 3, 2010

2. Common Core: A True Paradigm Shift
Voluntary national (not federal) standards in English and math
College- and career-ready
48 governors signed on
Race to the Top eligibility

3. International Competition
Source: OECD, Education at a Glance 2009.

4. A Tipping Point
Source: American Council on Education, Minorities in Higher Education 2009 Supplement.

5. New Workforce Demands
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, January 2010.

6. High School Achievement Flat
No significant change in average NAEP scores.
No reduction in achievement gaps among groups.
Share of high school graduates taking a “college prep” curriculum doubled from 18% in 1990 to 36% in 2005.
Source: National Assessment Governing Board.

7. The Common Core Standards Initiative