The Common Core State Standards Initiative "is a state-led effort coordinated by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). The standards were developed in collaboration with teachers, school administrators, and experts, to provide a clear and consistent framework to prepare our children for college and the workforce".  New Jersey adopted the Common Core Standards on June 23, 2010.

Download: The Common Core English Language Arts Standards

The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) "is a consortium of states working together to develop a common set of K-12 assessments in English and math anchored in what it takes to be ready for college and careers. These new K-12 assessments will build a pathway to college and career readiness by the end of high school, mark students’ progress toward this goal from 3rd grade up, and provide teachers with timely information to inform instruction and provide student support. The PARCC assessments will be ready for states to administer during the 2014-15 school year."

The Common Core English Language Arts Standards cite Lexile measures "as key indicators of text complexity. They provide recommended Lexile bands for reading comprehension development by grade levels to ensure students are preparing for the text demands of college and careers."