Tweaking an essay, getting the perfect recommendation, and taking the SAT prep course may all be helpful in the college planning process. However, these are not concrete guidelines that can determine whether or not a student is ready for the higher level of learning that colleges require. The readiness factor has in the past been measured by a student’s grades and rigor of curriculum. This all seems to be changing.

For many years, students have been posting good grades and scoring well on standardized testing, but still needing to take remedial courses in college. To combat this issue, the Council of Chief State School Officers and the National Governors Association have drafted a new set of national standards. These standards focus on the importance of math, reading, and writing. While these core subjects have always been emphasized, they have taken a new approach on what is important within the subjects for students to be learning. Click here to see the set of standards and a comprehensive breakdown of each subject.

To date, 48 states and the District of Columbia have signed on to the proposal. The set of standards are not federal guidelines, however if states want to participate in the new $4.35 billion Race to the Top fund (which is designed to stimulate innovation and competition among high schools), they will need to implement the new standards.

So what does this mean to you? As a student, you may start to see changes in the curriculum offered at your school. It appears topic areas will remain the same as what has been taught for years (grammar, geometry, literacy, etc.), but what the teacher spends time emphasizing within these subject areas may change. It is also possible that with this higher set of common standards, there may be an increased workload for you, and at the very least, an increased comprehension level.

So, while all this may seem like a lot, remember - this is being done to better prepare you for what you need to know to be successful in college!

Raising the bar,

Rich