Published: May 08, 2009 07:50 pm      

Va commits to multistate education initative

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia is committing to a multistate initiative to raise English and math standards for the K-12 public schools.

Gov. Tim Kaine and Superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia Wright on Friday signed an agreement on the “State Common Core Standards” initiative.

The program will produce a voluntary core of academic standards to prepare students for postsecondary education and the workplace. It is being coordinated by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers.

The agreement calls for the development of a core set of high school standards in English-language arts and mathematics by late summer of 2009. Elementary and middle school standards in both subjects are expected by the end of 2009.