Out of Many, One: Toward Rigorous Common Core Standards From the Ground Up

On Thursday, July 31, 2008, Achieve, Inc. will release "Out of Many, One: Toward Rigorous Common Core Standards From the Ground Up." The report shows that while 16 early adopter states individually set out to raise standards to ensure that their high school graduates were prepared for college, career and life, a byproduct of that work is a remarkable degree of consistency among the states around a common core of knowledge in English and mathematics.

Just as Achieve's original American Diploma Project (ADP) standards report, "Ready or Not," broke new ground by involving employers and higher education faculty in the standards-setting process, this new report forges unchartered territory by finding that states are leading the way in not just real-world standard setting but also in identifying the common core of knowledge that all high school graduates need to be successful.

This emerging "common core" has profound implications in the on-going debate over national standards and whether, and what kind of, federal action is warranted. While policy leaders debate national standards, is it possible that state-led efforts have already changed the debate? Are voluntary, state-led efforts leading to greater consistency in standards between and among states? Is it time to rethink how best to ensure that all high school graduates have the knowledge they need to succeed in the real world? Achieve's report findings and the implications for state and national policy will be discussed at the event.

SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

Michael Cohen, President, Achieve (confirmed)
Governor Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), Vice-chair, Achieve Board (confirmed)
Governor Phil Bredesen (D-TN), (confirmed)
Gene Wilhoit, President, Council of Chief State School Officers (confirmed)

RSVP:

Space is limited. To attend, please RSVP to Melinda Becker at mbecker@fratelli.com or 202-822-9491. Please contact Sandy Boyd at Achieve at sboyd@achieve.org or (202) 419-1542 for additional questions about the report, the event or the work of Achieve.

Created by the nation's governors and business leaders, Achieve is a bipartisan, nonprofit organization that helps states raise academic standards, improve assessments, and strengthen accountability to prepare all young people for postsecondary education, careers, and citizenship. Achieve was founded at the 1996 National Education Summit and has sponsored subsequent Summits in 1999, 2001, and 2005. At the 2005 Summit, Achieve launched the American Diploma Project Network. For more information, please visit www.achieve.org.