America’s children continue to remain behind other nations in terms of academic achievement and preparedness to succeed. This according to the recent National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) report.

That’s one reason why governors and state commissioners of education across the country are committing to a common core of state standards in English-language arts and mathematics for grades K-12. The Common Core State Standards Initiative encourages states to collectively drive education reform toward a goal of all children graduating from high school ready for college, work, and success in the global economy.

Virginia Governor Timothy Kaine summed it up this way, “Today, we live in a world without borders. It not only matters how Virginia students compare to those in surrounding states it matters how we compete with countries across the world.”

To find out if your state has joined, read the press release.