The Common Core State Standards have the potential to revolutionize American education. Informed by leading education models around the world and grounded in evidence of the knowledge students must have to succeed in college and careers, the standards give educators a consistent and focused picture of the skills that are most essential to children’s development. Alberti will discuss the major instructional shifts required by the standards, including the evidence behind the shifts. These same shifts will be represented in both consortia assessments. Also in this session, suggested tools and strategies for using the standards to improve teaching and learning will be presented.