State Standards

The Common Core Standards initiative was a joint effort by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) in partnership with Achieve, ACT, and the College Board. Through this initiative, Governors and state commissioners of education from across the country committed to joining a state-led process to develop a common core of state standards in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics for grades K-12. One of the main goals was to develop a “common core of standards that are internationally benchmarked, aligned with work and post-secondary education expectations, and inclusive of the higher order skills that students need…”

Learn more about the standards and how they were structured to ensure student success: About the Standards

In August 2010, the California State Board of Education (SBE) adopted the California Common Core State Standards for grades K-12. The SBE adopted the national core standards and added topics at some grade levels to strengthen areas the California state officials felt were not strong enough.

The Common Core State Standards define what needs to be effectively taught to California students in order for them to succeed in school and beyond.

Tom Adams, Director of Standards, Curriculum Frameworks, and Instructional Resources of the California Department of Education, gave the following slideshow presentation at the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association meeting in November 2010. In his informative presentation, Adams gives an overview of the adoption of the standards, the plan for implementation and assessment, and explains how the updated standards correlate to the previously adopted standards. View this presentation: The Common Core State Standards (PDF)

The California Department of Education has prepared a helpful list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) designed to better explain the standards changes. Click to view the FAQs

CDE Updates

November 2011
- CDE Updates Regarding Implementation of CCSS Systems
CCSS Mobile App – A mobile web version of the California Common Core Standards made for mobile devicesClick the links below to view the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics, as well as the Appendices for both.
Transitional Kindergarten: English | Spanish

Kindergarten: English | Spanish

1st Grade: English | Spanish

2nd Grade: English | Spanish