California Standards

California Standards bring strong advantages to students in California and in the United States. First, by unifying the expectations, assessments of educational quality and the federal funding that is based on such assessment will be more equitable. Second, students throughout the United States will be in a better position to compete with students throughout the world for university admission and for jobs in a global market. Finally, these standards define transitional-kindergarten through twelfth grade learning that will ensure that students are well prepared for post-secondary education and careers. 

The standards (formally known as The Common Core State Standards) are being used by 43 states across the United States. California’s State Board of Education adopted the standards in August 2010. The National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers and California Teachers Association were included in the discussion and were given a voice in providing their input into the final version of the standards.

These standards have been developed for English Language Arts (ELA) and for Mathematics. Common Core Literacy standards affect History, Social Science and Science instruction for the purpose of disciplinary literacy, but are not content standards for these subjects. Please see the ELA and Mathematics sections for more specific information about ELA and math standards.

On September 4, 2013, the State Board of Education (SBE) adopted the Next Generation Science Standards for California Public Schools, Kindergarten through Grade Twelve (CA NGSS) as required by California Education Code 60605.85. The NGSS Appendices A-M were also adopted to assist teachers in the implementation of the new science standards and to aid in the development of the new science curriculum framework.

NGSS for California Public Schools, K-12:  link to the California Department of Education site which provides information regarding the standards by:

• Grade level Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCI): Life Sciences, Earth and Space Sciences, and Physical Sciences or

• Grade level Topic (e.g., Chemical Reactions, Structure and Function, or Space Systems)

Reforming Science Instruction in California:   Short guide published by EdSource.  Designed for parents and other community members to help understand the rationale for NGSS and the potential to affect science instruction in California schools

Parent Resources

Teacher Resources

Assessment

Report Cards

Links to Smarter Balanced

Riverside Office of Education