STATE-LEVEL ACTIONS FOLLOWING ADOPTION OF COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS FOR MATHEMATICS.

The adoption of Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSS-M) by 45 states,1 the District of Columbia, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands represents a historic landmark in curriculum governance in the United States. For the first time, a significant majority of K-12 teachers and students will focus on common learning expectations for mathematics. Coupled with common grade-level assessments aligned to CCSS-M currently under development by two state-led consortia—Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for Colleges and Careers (PARCC) and the Smarter Balance Assessment Consortium (SBAC)—this initiative has the potential to impact aspects of educational practice critical to K-12 students’ mathematical learning (e.g., teacher preparation and professional development, curriculum material development, and policies related to K-12 course-taking and graduation requirements).