June 15, 2010
 
LANSING - The State Board of Education unanimously adopted today the Common Core Standards - a set of rigorous, college and career-ready K-12 curriculum standards that states across the nation are considering adopting to bring consistency in education across the states.
 
With this action, Michigan formally adopts the final Common Core Standards that are internationally benchmarked in English Language Arts and mathematics, formalizing Michigan's agreement to integrate the standards into the state's public education system.  
 
"This is an historic moment for Michigan," said State Board of Education President Kathleen N. Straus.  "With the implementation of the Common Core State Standards, teachers and administrators will have an instructional blueprint to ensure all Michigan students are college and career-ready."
 
The Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSSI) is a state-led effort coordinated by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) involving the Governors and state commissioners of education from 48 states, two territories and the District of Columbia, committed to developing a common core of state standards in English Language Arts and mathematics for grades K-12.  
 
"Michigan has been a national leader in the development of rigorous academic standards," said Mike Flanagan, State Superintendent of Public Instruction.  "The adoption of these standards will for the first time provide states with clear and consistent educational goals and represent a logical next step in our state's efforts to embrace high learning."
 
The standards have been guided by the best available evidence and the highest standards across the country and globe and were designed by a diverse group of teachers, experts, parents, and school administrators, so they reflect both real world requirements and the realities of the classroom.
 
"The Common Core Standards are built on the best state standards," Flanagan said. "These standards provide the content; they aren't telling states or school districts how to teach these content standards."
 
The Common Core State Standards define the knowledge and skills students should have within their K-12 education careers so that they will graduate high school able to succeed in entry-level, credit-bearing academic college courses and in workforce training programs.  The standards:

• Are aligned with college and work expectations.
• Are clear, understandable and consistent.
• Include rigorous content and application of knowledge through higher order skills.
• Build upon strengths and lessons of current state standards.
• Are informed by other top performing countries, so that all students are prepared to succeed in our global economy and society.
• Are evidence-based.
  

Michigan implemented new nationally recognized K-8 grade level content expectations in 2004 and high school content expectations in 2006 for English Language Arts and mathematics.  Both are closely aligned to the Common Core State Standards which will minimize instructional changes and adjustments.

"I see this as that next step in our education system," said State Board of Education Vice President John C. Austin. "It's really an extension of the work we've done here over the past several years. These Common Core Standards are consistent with the high expectations we've hold here in Michigan."

To help teachers successfully implement the standards, the Michigan Department of Education, Intermediate School Districts and other partner groups will provide support and training starting in the fall of 2010.  Teachers will begin to provide instruction related to the standards by the fall of 2012.  It is anticipated that students will be assessed on the Common Core Standards beginning in 2014.

The Common Core State Standards will enable participating states to:

• Articulate to parents, teachers, and the general public expectations for students.
  
• Align textbooks, digital media and curricula to the internationally benchmarked standards.
  
• Ensure professional development for educators is based on identified need and best practices.
  
• Develop and implement an assessment system to measure student performance against the common core state standards.
  
• Evaluate policy changes needed to help students and educators meet the common core state college and career readiness standards.
  

More information about the Common Core State Standards initiative including key points for both English language arts and mathematics is available at http://www.corestandards.org/.