The Common Core Standards gives teachers a solid foundation to build lesson plans and create a successful environment in their classrooms without telling them how to run their classrooms. Through the Common Core Standards Initiative, schools across the states are able to collaborate on improving the educational needs of our students. It further provides students, parents and teachers the tools that are needed in setting realistic goals for students to succeed. However, the federal government is not involved and each state continues to decide and develop their own academic standards and applications based on the common initiative.
In developing and approving these standards parents, teachers, administrators and experts worked together to create the foundation allowing each state to mold their curriculum. In developing these standards the states considered information and research based on other top performing countries as well as current standards throughout the U.S.
Although states currently implement their own standards and students achieve at different levels, the Common Core Standards Initiative enables the states to share information and provide students the equal opportunity to succeed regardless of the state they live in. These standards further allow students to be competitive with their neighboring peers as well as with students all over the world.
Arizona has developed its own set of academic standards based on the Common Core Standards. The academic standards in Arizona have been broken down for each grade level and subject matter. You can review Arizona's complete set of academic standards and applications in the classroom by visiting Arizona's Department of Education website.