The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a set of standards for kindergarten through 12th grade in the subjects of English and math that the states voluntarily adopt. 45 states including Massachusetts have signed on. The standards are designed to ensure that students graduating from high school are prepared to enter college or the workforce. They claim that the standards are “ . . . clear and concise to ensure that parents, teachers, and students have a clear understanding of the expectations in reading, writing, speaking and listening, language and mathematics in school.” It remains to be seen if this is in fact true. Tomorrow we will take a closer look at some of the changes coming soon.