Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

CCSS Systems Implementation Guide


Full implementation of California Common Core State Standards (CA CCSS) systems will occur over several years and in the context of a continuous learning process.

  • The Awareness Phase represents an introduction to the CA CCSS, the initial planning of systems implementation, and establishment of collaborations.
  • The Transition Phase is the concentration on building foundational resources, implementing needs assessments, establishing new professional learning opportunities, and expanding collaborations between all stakeholders.
  • The Implementation Phase expands the new professional learning support, fully aligns curriculum, instruction, and assessments, and effectively integrates these elements across the field.

Each of California’s local educational agencies (LEAs) should have in place its own local plan for CCSS systems implementation based on local needs and resources.  The California Department of Education fully recognizes and supports the idea that there are many different ways to approach the challenges of transforming our standards-based system, and expects that local implementation plans and strategies will be as diverse as the state itself.

This online CA CCSS systems implementation guide was developed to support local plan development and refinement, and can also support LEAs developing or updating their Local Control Accountability Plans, specifically with State Priority 2. It includes numerous suggestions and resources organized by the seven guiding strategies of the CCSS Systems Implementation Plan for California. The guide will be updated regularly as new resources become available. To remain apprised of the latest developments in CA CCSS systems implementation, please subscribe to the CCSS Update Listserv and Assessment Spotlight.

Guiding Strategy 1

Facilitate high quality professional learning opportunities for educators to ensure that every student has access to teachers who are prepared to teach to the levels of rigor and depth required by the CCSS.

Suggestions for Local Educational Agencies

  1. Establish structures for regular, ongoing professional learning in your local educational agency (LEA). To learn more about the features of effective professional development, please review:
  1. Utilize professional learning modules and Achieve the Core External link opens in new window or tab. to deepen educator understanding of the CCSS.
  1. Utilize Student Achievement Partners' CCSS Instructional Practice Guides External link opens in new window or tab. to learn more about what the CCSS look like in daily planning and practice.

  2. Review the many resources on the CDE CCSS Mathematics Resources, CCSS English Language Arts Resources, and CCSS Literacy Resources Web pages to identify additional tools to support the professional learning needs of local educators.

  3. Utilize the Professional Learning Opportunity Search Form to identify CCSS-related learning opportunities in your area, and also contact your local county office of education, institution of higher education, California Subject Matter Project, and professional educator organizations for additional CCSS learning opportunities.

  4. Finally, many instructional leaders have shared that the most valuable professional learning occurs when educators work together to develop curriculum designed to support student attainment of the CCSS. Consider using the resources available in Strategy 2 of this implementation guide to facilitate the development of new CCSS-aligned curriculum in your LEA.
Questions:   Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional Reasources Division | cfird@cde.ca.gov | 916-319-0881
Last Reviewed: Tuesday, December 17, 2024