The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state-led effort coordinated by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers to ensure that all students in the United States receive a world-class education and are prepared to be a literate person in the twenty-first century regardless of their zip code.

Digital Toolkit Added to Support the SMARTER Balanced Assessment System Training (March 2012)
A "toolkit" of resources to support the SMARTER Balanced Assessment System Training. This page can also be accessed under the Resources tab.
http://commoncoredev.lacoe.edu/resources/toolkit.php

Selected E-Resources for the Common Core Collaborative (January 2012)
Resources that Support District Actions to Address Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and Prepare Students for SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) Assessments.
Download the Document

ASCD - Free Common Core Webinar Series for Educators
ASCD has set up a series of webinars for those implementing common core standards.
http://www.ascd.org/news-media/Press-Room/News-Releases/Common-Core-Webinar-Series-for-Educators.aspx

Something in Common: The Common Core Standards and the Next Chapter in American Education
The Alliance for Excellent Education videotaped a recent discussion of common core standards at an education conference. It is a robust call for action.
http://media.all4ed.org/briefing-oct-18-2011

Implementing Common Core State Standards and Assessments-A Workbook for State and District Leaders
Do you need a workbook for implementation of common core standards? The U.S. Education Delivery Institute has provided this one.
http://www.parcconline.org/sites/parcc/files/Common_Core_Workbook.pdf3

Harvard Education Letter - Five Myths About the Common Core State Standards
The discussion of common core standards is sometimes manipulated by those who do not fully understand the mission. In this piece, the Harvard Education Letter focuses on the myths that have been generated.
http://hepg.org/hel/article/513

Common Core State Standards Messaging Toolkit
This is a common core standards tool kit for messaging. It gives critical answers and resources to those supporting and using common core standards.
http://programs.ccsso.org/link/CCSSI%20Toolkit%20Sept%202010.pdf

CCSSO - Connecting the High-Quality Expanded Learning Opportunities and the Common Core State Standards to Advance Student Success
This is a detailed report by the Council of Chief State School Officers, a non-profit group of superintendents, on the movement toward common core standards. It clearly links the common core standards to educational opportunities.
http://www.ccsso.org/Documents/Connecting%20Expanded%20Learning%20Opportunities%20
and%20the%20Common%20Core%20State%20Standards%20to%20Advance%20Student%20Success.pdf

Common Core State Standards: From State Adoption to District Implementation
This is a case study of Peachtree High School in Suwanee, Georgia, looking at the introduction of common core standards. It contains a video of two teachers discussing the standards.
http://edge.ascd.org/_Common-Core-State-Standards-From-State-Adoption-to-District-Implementation/blog/4875941/127586.html

National Governors Association Releases Implementation Guide for Common Core State Standards
The National Governor’s Association has released a report offering guidance to policymakers, in how to transition school systems toward common core standards. This link contains the report, which offers a very detailed look at the need for the standards.
http://www.nga.org/cms/home/news-room/news-releases/page_2011/col2-content/main-content-list/nga-releases-implementation-guid.html

Download the Report

Common Core State Standards: Progress and Challenges in School Districts
Six key findings are highlighted in this report showing the progress and challenges of districts implementing the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). The findings provide a snapshot of what districts had done or will be doing to implement the CCSS.
Download the Report

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Getting Started with Common Core - An Introduction for District Administrators, Principals, and Teachers
May 22, 2012

This one-day overview training provides valuable information, resources, and strategies to support implementation of the Common Core State Standards in schools and districts. Expert presenters will provide an overview of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects and the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, discuss implications for English Learners, share up-to-date information about the SMARTER Balanced assessments and present strategies for integrating history-social science, science and the visual and performing arts.

Getting Started with Common Core - An Introduction for Charter School Staff
May 30, 2012

This one-day training is designed to provide charter school staff with an introduction to the Common Core State Standards Initiative. Expert presenters will provide an overview of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects; the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics; and information about the SMARTER Balanced assessment system that will begin in 2014-15.