Common Core State Standards are a set of high-quality academic expectations in English-language arts (ELA) and mathematics that define both the knowledge and skills all students should master by the end of each grade level in order to be on track for success in college and career.

• The standards establish consistent learning goals for all students – regardless of where they live – so that children will know where they are on the path to college- and career-readiness even when moving to a different school or state. (In 2009, about 6,513 school-aged children moved to Hawaii from another state, and about 10,371 students moved from Hawaii to another state.)
• A clear roadmap of academic expectations allows students, parents and teachers to collaborate on shared goals.
• The standards are relevant to the real world: knowledge and skills students will need to succeed in life after high school, in both post-secondary education, and a globally competitive workforce.
• A diverse team developed the Common Core standards to be academically rigorous, attainable for students, and practical for teachers and districts.