Wisconsin Adopts Common Core State Standards

English Language Arts and Mathematics

State Superintendent Tony Evers formally adopted the newly released Common Core State Standards for English language arts and mathematics for Wisconsin on June 2, 2010.

“Wisconsin is ready to make the Common Core State Standards its academic standards for curriculum, instruction, and assessment,” Evers said. “These standards are aligned with college and career expectations, will ensure academic consistency throughout the state and across other states that adopt them, and have been benchmarked against international standards from high-performing countries.”

Evers exercised his authority under Article X of the Wisconsin Constitution to adopt the standards.

The standards for English language arts and mathematics, define the knowledge and skills students should have during their elementary and secondary school education so they are prepared to compete and succeed in the global economy. Wisconsin is a partner state in the Common Core State Standards Initiative and had on-going involvement in shaping the standards as they were developed, reviewing them and providing feedback to the project writers.

“These English language arts and mathematics standards will serve as a solid foundation to ensure every child is a graduate ready for the workforce or postsecondary studies,” Evers said. “Higher student achievement is driven by rigorous standards, high-quality curriculum, and assessments that provide meaningful feedback to improve instruction.”

The Department of Public Instruction will partner with school districts, universities, and education organizations to provide curriculum models and on-line resources to transition to the Common Core State Standards. Additionally, Wisconsin will work with the SMARTER/Balanced Assessment Consortium to develop high-quality, common assessments that are connected to classroom instruction.

Letter from State Superintendent for District Implementation

Common Core Standards - Powerpoint Presentation

Press Release

Questions and Answers about Academic Standards

What do new standards mean for state assessment? Wisconsin's state assessment is based on state standards. As we transition to the next generation assessment system announced last fall, DPI will develop an assessment system built around the Common Core State Standards. Wisconsin is a governing state within the 31-state consortium called the SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC). The guiding principles of SBAC mirror the recommendations of Wisconsin’s Next Generation Assessment Task Force report. SBAC likely will develop and field test this assessment system from 2010 through 2014, to be in place in the 2014-15 school year at the earliest.

Relating the Academic Standards to All Students

Conversations are underway at the national level to expand the Common Core State Standards beyond English language arts and mathematics to include science and social studies. Work has begun at the state level to revise the standards in physical education. The Department of Public Instruction will provide a schedule for revision of the other content areas with academic standards later this year.

Publications has printed standards booklets and a CD-ROM version in Microsoft Word 6.0 available on all 21 standards.

For questions about this information, contact S. Paul Sandrock (608) 267-3726

Last updated on 9/2/2010 9:11:56 AM