1. The Common Core State Standards in Washington
The Challenge: Washington Students Are Not Getting the Tools They Need
 Americans have always taught our children that if they work hard and apply themselves, there are no limits to what
they can accomplish – and we know that education is the key to fulfilling their dreams.
 But for too many kids in Washington and across the country aren’t graduating with the skills they need to succeed
after high school – and schools must do more to give them the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.
 In the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress, only 42 percent of Washington’s eighth graders
were judged “proficient” in math, and only 42 percent were proficient in reading.1
The Standards
 To ensure all students are prepared for success after graduation, the Common Core State Standards establish a set of
clear, consistent guidelines for what students should know and be able to do at each grade level in math and English
Language Arts. Forty-six states have adopted and are moving forward on the Common Core State Standards.
 By setting consistent, high goals for students in the state, the Common Core State Standards help ensure all
Washington students – from the Seattle metro area to the San Juan Islands – receive a quality education and are on a
path to success.
 This is about the future of our children. Thanks to the Common Core State Standards, we expect tens of millions of
students will be better equipped to compete in college and in their careers in the coming years.
 Here’s what we know:
o Teachers overwhelmingly support these standards, but they need the proper support and resources to
ensure they can help all students succeed in mastering the new college and career-ready standards. We know
the standards provide the right set of shared goals and expectations for our students, and now the real work
will be helping teachers and students reach those goals.
o This is a state-led effort that drew on the expertise of teachers and educators. States, districts, and schools
each have a role to play, and it will be teachers and administrators in Washington – including principals and
superintendents – who decide how the standards are to be taught. They will establish the curriculum, just as
they currently do – and have continued flexibility and creativity in the classroom.
o The standards are supported by a broad and diverse coalition of groups in Washington – for example, the
Washington State Board of Education, Washington State PTA, League of Education Voters, Stand for Children
Washington and a host of others have all endorsed the standards.
o Through the Common Core State Standards, we can both raise the bar and level the playing field on
education so our children gain the skills they need – and our teachers are better at reaching them in the ways
they learn best.
Teacher Support for Common Core State Standards in Washington2
 74% of teachers are enthusiastic about implementation in Washington.
 74% believe the standards will have a positive impact on students’ ability to think critically and use reasoning skills.
 75% of teachers recognize that implementing the standards is or will be challenging.
1 NAEP State Profiles, National Center for Education Statistics, http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/states/
2 Primary Sources Preview, Scholastic, http://www.scholastic.com/primarysources/2013preview/state-washington.htm