Common Core

The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a U.S. education initiative (Educating Kids) that follows the principles of standards-based Education Reform. The initiative is sponsored by the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). Announced on June 1, 2009,[1] the initiative's stated purpose is to "provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them.".. States were given an incentive to adopt the Common Core Standards through the possibility of competitive federal Race To The Top grants. U.S. President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced the Race to the Top competitive grants on July 24, 2009, as a motivator for education reform. To be eligible, states had to adopt "internationally benchmarked standards and Assessments that prepare students for success in college and the work place."[14] Though states could adopt other college- and career-ready standards and still be eligible, they were awarded extra points in their Race to the Top applications if they adopted the Common Core standards by August 2, 2010. Forty-one states made the promise in their application... Development of the Common Core Standards was funded by the governors and state schools chiefs, with additional support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Pearson Publishing Company, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, and others. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_core_state_standards_initiative

http://www.corestandards.org/

Tom Vander Ark (of the Gates Foundation) compares it to the IPhone as an "InnovatIon Platform".

• I'd counter this is typical of the "improve through greater centralization" mentality.

also the University Of Chicago's implementation of the Great Books program for its college.