Governor Richardson Announces

Governor Bill Richardson Announces New Agreement
With National Organizations and Other States on Common Academic Standards

SANTA FE-Governor Bill Richardson and Education Secretary Veronica C. García signed a memorandum of agreement this week with the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) that calls for states to work together to develop common standards for English/language arts and mathematics for grades
K-12.

“This initiative provides a significant opportunity to accelerate and drive education reform toward the goal of ensuring that all children graduate from high school ready for college, work, and competing in the global economy and society,” Governor Richardson said.

Developing a common core of standards in English-language arts and mathematics for K-12 will build directly on recent efforts of leading national organizations and states which have focused on developing college and career ready standards.

“Through Governor Richardson’s education reform agenda, Making Schools Work, we have raised the bar for all students,” said Secretary García. “New Mexico’s Standards for Excellence have been recognized as some of the best in the nation, and I thank Governor Richardson for joining with NGA, CCSSO, and other states to share our significant progress over the last six years. This participation will build on our Career and College Readiness work and the recent updating of our academic standards.”

The agreement calls for academic standards that are fewer, clearer and higher; aligned with college and work expectations; internationally benchmarked; rigorous; and based on research. States will have the opportunity to review the standards during and throughout the entire development process. The goal of the project is to release the core of high school standards late this summer, and the, in the fall, develop K-12 grade-by-grade standards.

For more information on this national initiative, go www.NGA.org or www.ccsso.org

Alarie Ray-Garcia
Deputy Communications Director
Office of New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson
State Capitol, Suite 400
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501
Office:505-476-2248
Cell:505-231-7350

May 19, 2009	For Immediate Release	Contact: Beverly Friedman (505) 795-0180
Governor Bill Richardson Announces New Agreement With National Organizations and Other States on Common Academic Standards SANTA FE-Governor Bill Richardson and Education Secretary Veronica C. García signed a memorandum of agreement this week with the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) that calls for states to work together to develop common standards for English/language arts and mathematics for grades K-12. “This initiative provides a significant opportunity to accelerate and drive education reform toward the goal of ensuring that all children graduate from high school ready for college, work, and competing in the global economy and society,” Governor Richardson said. Developing a common core of standards in English-language arts and mathematics for K-12 will build directly on recent efforts of leading national organizations and states which have focused on developing college and career ready standards. “Through Governor Richardson’s education reform agenda, Making Schools Work, we have raised the bar for all students,” said Secretary García. “New Mexico’s Standards for Excellence have been recognized as some of the best in the nation, and I thank Governor Richardson for joining with NGA, CCSSO, and other states to share our significant progress over the last six years. This participation will build on our Career and College Readiness work and the recent updating of our academic standards.” The agreement calls for academic standards that are fewer, clearer and higher; aligned with college and work expectations; internationally benchmarked; rigorous; and based on research. States will have the opportunity to review the standards during and throughout the entire development process. The goal of the project is to release the core of high school standards late this summer, and the, in the fall, develop K-12 grade-by-grade standards. For more information on this national initiative, go www.NGA.org or www.ccsso.org Alarie Ray-Garcia Deputy Communications Director Office of New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson State Capitol, Suite 400 Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 Office:505-476-2248 Cell:505-231-7350