The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) provide a set of learning standards that have been adopted by most states in the United States. These standards were developed to ensure that all students graduate from high school with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in college, career, and life. In addition, the CCSS are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in today’s economy and society.

Special education teachers can use these standards as the foundation for developing their curriculum plans. Many states have developed their own special education standards based on their individualized educational needs. If your state has its own special education standards, you should follow them when writing your curriculum plan as opposed to using the common core standards.
However, if your state does not have its own special education standards, you can use the common core standards as a guide for developing your curriculum plan. The common core standards are organized by grade level (K-12). Each standard is broken down into sub-standards. In addition, each standard includes sample learning targets that can help you write lesson plans that meet that particular standard.
The Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers. With American students fully prepared for the future, our communities will be best positioned to compete successfully in the global economy.

States determine how to incorporate these standards into their existing standards for those subjects or adopt them as content area literacy standards. They are informed by other top performing countries, so that all students are prepared to succeed in our global economy and society.
While each of these lesson plans includes a variety of activities and practices, they are not meant to be used in their entirety. Instead, they are simply a tool that can help teachers teach the standards and adapt them for students with special needs. Feel free to pick and choose whichever activities and practices work best for your class.

The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a nationwide effort to increase academic standards in K-12 education. This movement has been adopted by 45 of the 50 states, and it aims to provide educators with a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn so that teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers.