The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a collaborative effort between the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and the National Governors Association (NGA) that is developing core K12 standards in English-language arts and math. The current patchwork of state standards makes it difficult, if not impossible, to evaluate student…

For over two decades the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement has administered achievement tests internationally. Results of past and future tests can not only indicate where U.S. students rank in achievement, but also broaden curriculum makers' visions of what is desirable for students. (Author/JM)