Mathematics Standards & Resources
The California Common Core State Standards: Mathematics (CA CCSSM) reflect the importance of focus, coherence, and rigor as the guiding principles for mathematics instruction and learning. California’s implementation of the CA CCSSM demonstrates a commitment to providing a world-class education for all students that supports college and career readiness and the knowledge and skills necessary to fully participate in the twenty-first-century global economy.
The standards call for learning mathematical content in the context of real-world situations, using mathematics to solve problems, and developing “habits of mind” that foster mastery of mathematics content as well as mathematical understanding. The standards for kindergarten through grade 8 prepare students for higher mathematics. The standards for higher mathematics reflect the knowledge and skills that are necessary to prepare students for college and careers and productive citizenship.
Implementation of the CA CCSSM will take time and effort, but it also provides a new and exciting opportunity to ensure that California’s students are held to the same high expectations in mathematics as their national and global peers. Although California educators have implemented standards before, the CA CCSSM require not only rigorous curriculum and instruction but also conceptual understanding, procedural skill and fluency, and the ability to apply mathematics. In short, the standards call for meeting the challenges of the twenty-first century through innovation. (CDE, 2013)