The California State Standards (CSS) were developed through a state-led initiative to establish consistent and clear education standards for English language arts and mathematics that would better prepare students for success in college, career, and the competitive global economy. The California State Board of Education (SBE) adopted the standards on August 2, 2010.

California Department of Education​ (CDE) California State Standards

Overview: 
What are the Common Core Standards?

Educational standards describe what students should know and be able to do in each subject in each grade.

In California, the State Board of Education decides on the standards for all students, from kindergarten through high school. The California Department of Education helps schools make sure that all students are meeting the standards. Since 2010, 45 states have adopted the same standards for English and math. These standards are called the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Having the same standards helps all students get a good education, even if they change schools or move to a different state. Teachers, parents, and education experts designed the CCSS to prepare students for success in college and the workplace. (California Department of Education)

Depth of Knowledge:
Depth of Knowledge represents the comparison of the cognitive demand of the Common Core Standards and the cognitive demand of the Assessments given to determine their mastery.
Levels of Thinking in Bloom’s Taxonomy and Webb’s Depth of Knowledge
Descriptors of DOK levels for Social Studies
Descriptors of DOK for the Arts
DOK Question Stems
Depth of Knowledge Chart
Cognitive Rigor Matrix for Math & Science 
Cognitive Rigor Matrix for Reading and Writing

21st Century Skills
21st Century Skills refers to a growing global movement to redefine the goals of education, to transform how learning is practiced each day, and to expand the range of measures in student achievement, all in order to meet the new demands of the 21st Century. The driving questions are: “What do students need to learn to help them succeed academically? What do students need to learn to help them succeed in their personal lives? What do students need to learn in order to help them achieve economic success?

In addition to the core subjects, schools must integrate the 21st century interdisciplinary themes in the daily instructional activities. The themes consist of global awareness, financial, economic, business, entrepreneurial literacy, civil literacy, health literacy, and environmental literacy.

The Partnership for 21st Century Skills is a national  organization that advocates for 21st century readiness for every student.

California State Standards Professional Development
Professional development is offered for all content areas.  Please see EVENTS on the main page or, to sort by content area, visit the program specific page within Instructional Support Services.

The Language and Literacy Tool
We have spiral bound books in K-3, 4-6, K-6, K-8, 6-8, 9-12, 7-12 and K-12 grade spans available for purchase.  Please download the sample and use the provided form to place your order.  There is a 2-3 week turn around on all orders. Order Form

Common Core Standards Booklets
We have spiral bound Common Core Standards booklets for English Language Arts, Mathematics, English Language Development and Next Generation Science Standards available for purchase from our print shop.  Please use the attached order form to place an order.

VAPA Content Standards Booklets
We have ring bound VAPA Content Standards booklets available for purchase from our print shop.  Please use the order form to purchase.

Estándares Comunes de California (CCSESA)
Este manual brinda a los padres de familia una introducción a los Estándares Comunes de California y un resumen de lo que se espera que aprendan los estudiantes a partir de entrar al kindergarten y hasta el octavo grado.