California Curriculum / Common Core Standards
On August 2, 2010, as part of a multistate initiative to establish clear and consistent education standards, the California State Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt new standards for both mathematics and English language arts. The new CCSS are research-based, internationally benchmarked, and designed to prepare every student for success in college and the workplace.
The process for implementing these new standards is just beginning. It will take several years to implement the new CCSS, as the process will include adopting aligned instructional materials, revising professional development, and creating new statewide assessments. For more information about the implementation of the CCSS, and for links to download the new standards, please visit the CDE Common Core State Standards Resources Web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cc/. During this transition period, educators, parents, and students will have an opportunity to become familiar with the many similarities between California’s 1997 content standards and the CCSS and to learn about the enhancements for each grade level.
All of California’s content standards provide detailed expectations for what students should know and be able to do at each grade level. Although the standards are intended to provide objectives for students and teachers, decisions about classroom instruction are generally made at the local level by the teacher, local administrator, and/or the locally elected school board.