The PA Common Core standards are closely aligned with the National Common Core (about 85%), with a few adjustments made to better fit the needs of Pennsylvania students. Standards are nothing more then a set of goals for students to achieve by the end of their school year. They are not a curriculum nor do they dictate how teachers must teach in the classroom. Teachers still have the ability to choose strategies that work with their specific students and the choice of curriculum materials used is still given to each local school district.

Before PA adopted the National Common Core, they had a set of high-quality standards in place. It did not take much adjustment to align with the National Common Core. In Math, there will be more emphasis on the “Focus” of mathematical algorithms, “Coherence” of topics within the grade level and “Rigor.”

Focus, in the classroom looks like a student being able to think about explanations given for answers and deciding to agree or disagree with a logical argument. Coherence addresses the need for skills to be mastered before moving on to the next skill. Rigor is the hard work and practice required to make the concept fluent.

- from The Teacher's Academy, http://www.theteachersacademy.com/blog/the-common-core-in-pa/