The move by states to set academic standards -- which broadly define what students should know and be able to do in subjects like reading and math -- arose from the conviction that all children , regardless of race or socioeconomic status , should have an equal opportunity to learn what they need for college and beyond . Kathleen Porter-Magee : People ask about value of academic standards like Common Core . Porter-Magee : The idea is that we should be able to measure the quality and effectiveness of our education system by looking at how well students are learning in school, not just what they learn on standardized tests or other measures She says Common Core is a game-changer in making expectations more rigorous . This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to pull students up to potential , she says .
Kathleen Porter-Magee : People ask about value of academic standards like Common Core . Porter-Magee : The idea is that we should be able to measure the quality and effectiveness of our education system by looking at how well students are learning in school, not just what they learn on standardized tests or other measures She says Common Core is a game-changer in making expectations more rigorous . This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to pull students up to potential , she says .