Iowa Core Curriculum

Every student in Iowa deserves an education that helps them succeed in today’s technology rich, global economy. The Iowa Core Curriculum (also known as Model Core Curriculum) assists Iowa schools in delivering that education.

It does so by helping teachers take learning to a deeper level and by focusing on a well-researched set of essential concepts and skills in literacy, math, science, social studies, and 21st century learning skills (civic literacy, financial literacy, technology literacy, health literacy, and employability skills). The Core Curriculum is not course-based, but rather is a student-based approach that supports high expectations for all students.

Passed by the Iowa legislature and signed into law by Governor Chet Culver in spring 2008, the Iowa Core Curriculum builds on our state’s long history of community leadership in education and relies on partners across the state for implementation in high schools by 2012 and in elementary and middle schools by 2014.

The Iowa Core Curriculum bolsters Iowa’s education structure that includes mandated state content standards and benchmarks. All are aligned to improve student achievement in Iowa.