Today's students are preparing to enter a world in which higher education and the workforce are demanding higher-level skills than ever before. To ensure all students are ready for success after high school, the Common Core State Standards establish a set of learning goals that work grade-by-grade, step-by-step, to prepare them to meet challenges they will face both in college and career. Students benefit from this approach through a greater use of analysis, critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills. The standards are in line with the skills that all students need to become 21st century learners. Common Core was borne from the recognition that consistent, real-world learning goals would ensure all students--regardless of where they live--graduate high school prepared for college, career, and civic life. The standards were drafted by content experts and teachers, with significant public input, and were adopted by California policymakers on a bipartisan basis in 2010. They are widely supported by a diverse and broad spectrum of stakeholders. Common Core does not dictate specific content: it is a set of standards that sets expectations for what students should know at each grade level, like being able to count to 100 in kindergarten. It is up to local teachers and school leaders to decide how to help their students reach those goals. Implementing Common Core in every classroom in the state and using the Smarter Balanced Assessments to measure student progress is a significant undertaking, and challenges have been expected. None of these temporary difficulties, however, outweigh the long-term benefits of providing students what they need to be ready for a successful future. Teachers, students, and district leaders should be provided the time and support necessary to successfully implement the standards.