1. What are state and local education standards?

The term standards is the same as referring to Kentucky’s academic standards and they are just that. Standards are a set of learning goals for each grade level. It is up to our teachers to determine how to teach each standard.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE MATH STANDARDS.  //  CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENGLISH STANDARDS.

2. Will adopting these standards bring all states’ standards down to the lowest common denominator?  Will states with high standards actually take a step backwards by adopting the new academic standards?

No, the standards are designed to build upon the most advanced current thinking about preparing all students for success in college, career and life. This will result in moving even the best state standards to the next level. In fact, since this work began, there has been an explicit agreement that no state would lower its standards. The standards were informed by the best in the country, the highest international standards, and evidence and expertise about educational outcomes. We need college- and career-ready standards because even in high‐performing states, students are graduating and passing all the required tests but still need remediation in their post secondary work.

3. Are the Standards internationally benchmarked?

Absolutely. Standards from top-performing countries played a significant role in the development of the math and English language arts/literacy standards. In fact, the college- and career-ready standards provide an appendix listing the evidence consulted in drafting the standards, including the international standards consulted in the development process.