As the school year begins throughout the Northwest and the country, educators and policymakers are focusing attention on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). States are reviewing—and in some cases adopting—these voluntary, national standards in mathematics and English language arts, which were unveiled in June by the Council of Chief State School Officers and the National Governors Association. The K–12 content standards define what all students need to know and be able to do to be successful in college and the workplace.

To help our regional stakeholders stay current on the initiative, Education Northwest is devoting a section of our website to CCSS resources. These pages have an introduction to CCSS, a history of the standards’ development, and state-by-state updates on the review and adoption process. There are also links to helpful resources. We will be adding “briefs” on what various education audiences need to know about the CCSS.

“Conversations with Education Northwest board members and state education agency staff in the region point to the need for accurate and timely information, as well as high-quality, useful resources relevant to the CCSS,” says Kit Peixotto, who is leading Education Northwest’s CCSS work. “As states move forward to implement these standards, these web pages will serve as a clearinghouse on the CCSS—a place where users know they can find accurate information and links to the latest resources.”

While Northwest states are in different stages of considering the CCSS, adoption is just a first step. As Oregon Superintendent of Public Instruction Susan Castillo points out, “We must think critically about how we ensure these standards are successfully implemented. This means, in part, ensuring that the primary elements of our educational system—curriculum, instruction, teacher preparation, professional development, and assessment—are aligned to support implementation.”

Education Northwest stands ready to help states with this important work. For services related to standards in mathematics and English language arts, contact Kit Peixotto (503.275.9594).