Common Core ELA Standards (CCSS)

The Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy cover reading, writing, speaking and listening, and language from kindergarten through grade 12, plus literacy standards for history, science and technical subjects from grade 6.

Standards by grade

Applies across all grades

Anchor Standards: Reading

The broad reading goals that every grade's reading standards build toward.

Anchor Standards: Writing

The broad writing goals that every grade's writing standards build toward.

Anchor Standards: Speaking & Listening

The broad speaking and listening goals that every grade's standards build toward.

Anchor Standards: Language

The broad language goals that every grade's language standards build toward.

Make assessments for these standards

Frequently asked questions

How many Common Core ELA Standards (CCSS) are there?

This guide lists 943 Common Core ELA standards across 11 grade and course pages. Choose a grade below to see every standard for it.

Which states use the Common Core ELA Standards (CCSS)?

Most US states adopted the Common Core in 2010–2011. Several have since revised or renamed their standards (New York's Next Generation Learning Standards, for example), but most state ELA standards still follow the Common Core's structure.

Common Core State Standards © Copyright 2010. National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved.