The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state-led effort that established a single set of clear educational standards for kindergarten through 12th grade in English language arts and mathematics that states voluntarily adopt. The standards are designed to ensure that students graduating from high school are prepared to enter credit bearing entry courses in college programs or enter the workforce.

Council of Chief State School Officers, works to facilitate collective state action to improve education workforce and school accountability; releases reports dealing with progress in these areas.

The Education Commission of the States was created in 1965. ECS tracks state policy trends and related research. See the section on ASSESSMENT under the Education Issues tab.

Official site of the Iowa Department of Education, with information about policy, publications, and statistical data about the state of Iowa.

Searchable content standards which provide in-depth analyses of the Common Core Standards.

The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) is a consortium of 22 states plus the U.S. Virgin Islands working together to develop a common set of K-12 assessments in English and mathematics.

Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium is a state-led consortium developing assessments related to the Common Core State Standards in English language arts/literacy and mathematics that are designed to help prepare all students to graduate high school college- and career-ready.