DOE Archives

Common Core State Standards

What are the Common Core State Standards?

The Common Core State Standards, adopted by the New Jersey State Board of Education in 2010, define grade-level expectations from kindergarten through high school for what students should know and be able to do in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics to be successful in college and careers.

How were the Common Core State Standards developed?

The National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) led the development of the Common Core State Standards with the participation of educators, curriculum experts, school administrators and higher education faculty. The standards have been voluntarily adopted by a majority of the states.

Explore the standards and learn more about the development of the standards at corestandards.org.

Are the Common Core State Standards a curriculum?

The standards are not a curriculum. The Common Core State Standards define what students are expected to know and be able to do. In New Jersey, local school districts have the responsibility to develop curricula that will assist teachers in ensuring that students meet the Common Core State Standards. All decisions regarding textbooks, reading lists, and lesson plans continue to be made at the local level.  

Did New Jersey have state standards prior to the Common Core State Standards?

New Jersey has had state standards since the 1990s in nine subject areas, known as the Core Curriculum Content Standards. The New Jersey State Board of Education voluntarily adopted the Common Core State Standards in 2010 to replace the previous English language arts and mathematics standards.