In a move that could help states procure part of the $4.3 billion Race to the Top Fund, the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) on Sept. 21 released the first official public draft of their Common Core State Standards.

The college and career readiness standards in English and math are part of the Common Core State Standards Initiative, an effort being led by governors and chief state school officers in 51 states and territories. The initiative aims to address the wide disparities in what high school students are expected to know before graduating in states throughout the nation, by creating a set of core standards that states can adopt voluntarily.

These standards, according to the organizations, "define the knowledge and skills [that] students should have to succeed in entry-level, credit-bearing academic college courses and in workforce training programs." An early draft of the standards was leaked to the public in June (see "Field sees first draft of common standards"), but observers say the formal draft standards released Sept. 21 are much clearer than the earlier version and could help revitalize American education.

The Obama administration has proposed giving states that adopt common standards an advantage in seeking federal aid, as part of the $4.3 billion Race to the Top Fund. The NGA and CCSSO are encouraging those interested in the standards to provide feedback, which must be supported by research and evidence, by Oct. 21 at www.corestandards.org.

"I applaud the leadership of this coalition of states in joining together to develop a common core of academic standards," said U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan. "The draft [standards] are an important step forward, and it is now in the hands of the public to provide critical feedback to state leadership. There is no work more important than preparing our students to compete and succeed in a global economy, and it is to the credit of these states that this work is getting done."

According to both organizations, after the public feedback period, the standards are subject to review by an expert Validation Committee consisting of national and international experts on standards, who will be named in a few weeks. This group will then "review the standards development process and the substance of the standards to ensure they are research- and evidence-based," with the goal of releasing a final version of the standards this winter.

"The college- and career-readiness standards are really just the beginning," said Gene Wilhoit, executive director of CCSSO. "We need this confirmed, validated goal of fewer, clearer, and higher standards to take on the real work of ensuring students have a roadmap from grades K-12 for achieving these standards."