By CHRISSY PRICHARD

For the Express

OLD FORGE - Public schools in the state started implementing the New York State P-12 Common Core Learning Standards with the start of the new school year.

Common Core is a nationwide education initiative to create consistent academic standards among states. All English language arts and mathematics instruction is to be aligned to the new standards starting with the current school year.

Prior to this state-led initiative each state set its own academic standards, which has resulted in varied levels of academic expectations and achievements across the country.

The Common Core State Standards are designed to ensure all students come out of high school prepared to meet college and workforce expectations, regardless of the state in which they live.

Academic experts from across the country developed the core standards. The first step was to determine college- and career-ready standards that detail what students should know and be able to do upon graduation from high school.

These standards were in turn used to develop corresponding K-12 standards that set expectations by grade level.

Each state may adopt these standards or not. Each that does determines the best way for its students to reach the academic goals set by Common Core.

The state will continue testing students in a similar manner as before. Students in third through eighth grades will still take ELA and math tests, but the questions will change to line up with the new standards.

Secondary level students will continue to take state-administered Regents exams.

Teachers will be evaluated on the results of these assessments.

Although much of the information being taught is the same, there will be changes in what is expected from a teacher’s instructional approach.

ELA will focus more on non-fiction materials, which means teachers in other subjects, such as science, can use more reading and writing to teach their subject matter, which will help students achieve the ELA standards.

Principals will play a larger role in making sure teachers and students are on the right track academically, changing their focus from discipline to instruction.

For further information on the Common Core State Standards visit www.engageNY.org or www.corestandards.org.