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Common Core Background

Common Core Background

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) Initiative was a joint effort by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) www.nga.org external link and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) www.ccsso.org external link 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…”   
In April 2009, Governor David Paterson and former Education Commissioner Richard P. Mills signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) along with fifty other states and territories to participate in the national dialogue to develop these voluntary standards. In September 2009, the first draft of the College and Career Readiness Standards were released for public feedback.  Revisions were incorporated, and a second round of public feedback was taken in March of 2010.  Final Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for Mathematics and CCSS for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science and Technical Subjects were unveiled June 2, 2010.  States began adopting them immediately, many as part of their commitment to the federal Race to the Top reform efforts.  The adoption process required states to adopt the CCSS word-for-word, but allowed for the addition of up to 15% more standards in each subject area to accommodate individual state concerns and preferences.

On July 19th, 2010, the New York State Board of Regents adopted the CCSS for Mathematics and CCSS for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects, with the understanding that New York State could add additional expectations to the Common Core. Please see the corresponding Regents item for additional details:
http://www.regents.nysed.gov/meetings/2010Meetings/July2010/0710p12.swa1.htm
To support the state’s adoption plan, a work group of P-12 and higher education English Language Arts and Mathematics practitioners convened, made recommendations for additions and submitted them for public comment in the fall of 2010. In January, the Board of Regents approved these additions and approved and adopted the CCSS as New York State's new learning standards. Now known as the NYS P-12 Common Learning Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy and the NYS P-12 Common Core Learning Standards for Mathematics, these standards have been developed for all students, including English Language Learners and students with disabilities. Guidance materials will be developed for teachers to implement these new learning standards for all their various student populations; these resources and materials will begin to be posted on the SED website during the summer of 2011.