Three years after the Legislature raised standards in schools to boost student achievement and ensure kids are prepared for jobs in today’s global economy, the Iowa Department of Education is in the process of reviewing a new national model of education standards to determine how it aligns with Iowa’s standards.
The Common Core State Standards was a voluntary, state-led effort coordinated by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). The purpose of this effort was to develop standards that each state could adopt voluntarily to provide a common set of standards across states.
The Common Core State Standards were developed to be aligned with college and work expectations, to include rigorous content and skills, and to be internationally benchmarked. The Common Core State Standards initiative encompasses standards for English language arts and mathematics.
The review the Department is conducting will help the State Board of Education to decide whether or not the state will adopt Common Core State Standards as our own state standards.
A key similarity is the goal of both the Common Core and the Iowa Core: To ensure Iowa students are well-prepared for either furthering their education after high school or embarking on a career.