California is now a Common Core state

Well, the State Board of Education today voted unanimously (9-0) in support of the Common Core standards as supplemented by the Academic Content Standards Commission.

It was a job well done and many thanks are due all around. Two key points emerged from the discussion and action.

First, the State Board of Education correctly defined its task as to accept the academic content standards; doing so excluded some prefatory and supplemental materials as well as recommendations on the organization of the standards and support for English learners and students with disabilities. This important step will ensure that California has maximum flexibility as it moves towards implementation.

The second issue is, indeed, implementation. All the various steps and issues that now confront the state as it turns towards making the Common Core standards effective for all students in California are crucial: curriculum frameworks and instructional materials; assessments; accountability systems; and professional support for teachers and administrators.

As one who has participated in the state's standards-assessment-accountability system for 15 years, this is an important day for California. It will be known as a turning point and a day of promise for our students.