Common core state standards and writing: Introduction to The Special Issue

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) provide a new and ambitious blueprint for the teaching of writing. They provide goals and expectations for the writing knowledge and skills students are expected to master as they move from kindergarten to grade 12. CCSS also places writing at the center of the educational reform movement in the United States, making writing a more integral part of the curriculum and learning. While these standards have generated considerable controversy within and outside the educational community, the benefits of CCSS for writing far outweigh any potential limitations. At the most basic level, the implementation of CCSS should result in more writing and writing instruction in schools. This is not a trivial accomplishment, as a majority of American students’ writing is in need of improvement.