The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

Forty-eight states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands have joined an effort to develop common standards for what American students should learn in English and math each year from kindergarten through 12th grade, a significant step toward national education standards.  Alaska and South Carolina have not yet signed onto the initiative, called the Common Core State Standards Initiative.

A committee of education experts are currently developing the standards, which will be "research and evidence-based, internationally benchmarked, aligned with college and work expectations and include rigorous content and skills," according a press release from the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers, who are coordinating the experts' work. 

"Defining standards is only the first step, they must reach all students regardless of the state or community in which they live and the states must commit to implementing them as soon as they are ready," said LCCR Senior Counsel David Goldberg, and a founding partner in the Campaign for High School Equity, a coalition of 10 national civil rights and education organizations that support common standards.

States and territories will have the option of adopting the standards or incorporating them into what they are currently doing.  The first set, focused on making sure high school graduates' reading and math skills prepare them for work and college, will be released in July.  The second set, grade-by-grade benchmarks designed to keep students on track to meet the graduation requirements, will be completed by the end of the year.

"To make the standards meaningful for students, there will have to be new curricula and better assessments aligned to meet them.  The federal government can support the states with funding to make sure they aren't done on the cheap and that there are well-designed versions for English language learners and students with disabilities," said Goldberg.