Common Core, explained for teachers
What the Common Core State Standards are, which subjects and states they cover, how to read a standard code, and how they relate to your state standards — with AI tools that draft standards-aligned lessons.
The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are shared academic standards for ELA and math, K-12. They set the goals for each grade — but they are standards, not a curriculum. How to teach them is up to each state, district, and teacher.
What Common Core covers (and doesn't)
- Covers: English Language Arts (ELA) and math, K-12.
- Doesn't cover: science (see NGSS) or social studies.
The reality: no single national curriculum
Most states use Common Core or a revised version, but several don't — Texas (TEKS), Florida (B.E.S.T.), Virginia (SOL). The rule for national resources is simple: align to your state's standards. See more in the lesson planning guide.
How to read a standard code
Take CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.1:
| Part | Meaning |
|---|---|
| CCSS | Common Core State Standards |
| ELA-LITERACY / RL | Subject and strand — Reading: Literature |
| 4 | Grade level |
| 1 | Standard number |
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Create free accountFrequently asked questions
What are the Common Core State Standards?
The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are shared academic standards for English Language Arts (ELA) and math, K-12. They describe what students should know and be able to do at each grade. They are standards — not a curriculum or a set of lessons — and each state decides how to teach them.
Which subjects does Common Core cover?
Only English Language Arts (ELA) and math. Common Core does not cover science or social studies. Science is typically guided by NGSS or a state's own standards.
Do all states use Common Core?
No. Most states use Common Core or a lightly revised version, but several never adopted it or replaced it — for example Texas (TEKS), Florida (B.E.S.T.), and Virginia (SOL). Always align your lessons to your own state's standards.
How do you read a Common Core standard code?
A code like CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.1 breaks down as: CCSS (Common Core), the subject and strand (ELA-Literacy, Reading Literature), the grade (4), and the standard number (1). Math codes work similarly, with domains and clusters.
Is Common Core a curriculum?
No. Common Core is a set of standards — the goals for each grade. It does not tell teachers what materials to use or how to teach. Districts and teachers choose the curriculum and lessons that meet the standards.
Keep reading: Lesson planning · NGSS (science standards) · Science of Reading