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Explore guides, research papers, policy briefs, and tools to aid decisions on standards and assessments.
California Common Core State Standards Mathematics
The California Common Core State Standards Mathematics are intended to build on California’s standards-based educational system in which curriculum, instruction, professional learning, assessment, and accountability are aligned to support student attainment of the standards. California additions to the standards (identified in boldface text and followed by the abbreviation “CA”) were incorporated in an effort to retain the consistency and precision of California’s past standards. The standards call for learning mathematical content in the context of real-world situations, using mathematics to solve problems, and developing “habits of mind” that foster mastery of mathematics content as well as mathematical understanding. The standards for kindergarten through grade 8 intend to prepare students for higher mathematics. The standards for higher mathematics intend to reflect the knowledge and skills that are necessary to prepare students for college and careers and productive citizenship.
The California Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CA CCSSM) are in alignment with the overarching organization and guidance offered with the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM). However, there is debate around the extent to which adoption of the CCSSM in CA have lowered CA mathematics standards. A 2010 Fordham Institute review of the CA CCSSM noted the addition of few more Grades 1-4 CA CCSSM than the CCSSM, fewer grades 5-8 CA CCSSM than the CCSSM, and more CA CCSSM for advanced statistics or calculus sections. (CA had state standards in calculus prior to the CCSSM and continues to have them.) The CA CCSS may also contain clearer writing than the CCSS in some instances. (See Table 1 on http://educationnext.org/the-common-core-math-standards/.) However, writers of the CCSSM have responded that no state’s previous math standards were as close a match to the high-performing countries as the Common Core, but that with the CA CCSSM, a wider range of California’s students gain the strong foundations they need to succeed in calculus. Extremely well-written. Useful resource which clearly shows how CA enhanced the CCSSM. Useful for educators who may want to prepare students for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) courses in college, not just general college-and-career readiness for non-STEM majors.