Common Core State Standards: Opportunities, Challenges and a Way Forward

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) were developed through a collaborative effort by educators from all fifty states so that a clear concise set of uniform standards are available to guide K-12 instruction in the United States. Previous to the CCSS no such document existed in the United States. Thus, the CCSS are relatively new and some in the educational community welcome them with open arms while others hesitate to endorse them. This paper researched these divergent perspectives and found that research on educational change can point out the problems and benefits connected to CCSS. Some of this information targets the standards directly and some indirectly. A review of research literature helped present insights with some possible strategies for those who are eager to implement them and those who hesitate to embrace them as both groups work towards the implementation of CCSS which are now mandated by a majority of the 50 states. These insights suggest that implementation of the CCSS should be gradual and well supported so that all educators are adequately prepared and can help facilitate the changes CCSS will require.