1. The Real Story Behind the Common Core Michael Cohen President, Achieve May 18, 2014

2. States are the Laboratories of American Democracy 2

3. States: Leaders of the Standards Movement Since 1980s 3 Time for Results —NGA, 1986 National Education Summit & Goals —1989 States Develop Standards: NY, CA, KY, AR, VT —early 1990s 49 States Adopt State Standards —by 1999 Diploma Project Network —2005 Out of Many, One —Achieve, 2008 Benchmarking for Success NGA, CCSSO, Achieve —2008

4. Feds Have Contributed $ But Not Content 4 USED grants to states, national orgs 1990 1991 1994 1997 2001 Bush Admin. proposes American Achievement Exams; Congress fails to enact Goals 2000 & Improving America’s Schools Act enacted Clinton Admin. proposes Voluntary National Tests; Congress fails to fund NCLB enacted

5. 50 Different State Standards & Tests, Common Weaknesses 5 State Standards Not Aligned with Real World Demands of College and Careers =

6. The American Diploma Project Network 6 35 States Collaborate to Align State Standards to Real World Demands

7. ADP Network States 7 Identifying Common Core of College and Career Ready Standards

8. Common Core State Standards Initiative Launched in 2009 State Leaders Chose to Address Weaknesses Collaboratively Coordinated By NGA & CCSSO Yearlong Process Results Supported by Unions, Business & Higher Ed Adopted by 45 States, D.C. and DODEA 8

9. Common Myths About the Common Core 9 “Common Core Will Lead to Federal Curriculum” “Common Core Violates Federal Laws” “Common Core is a Vast Federal Overreach by the Obama Administration” “Common Core is a Conspiracy Led by the Gates Foundation, Big Business and the American Legislative Exchange Council”