Beginning with the 2012-13 academic year, all North Carolina school districts will implement new Common Core Standards in English/Language Arts and Mathematics in all grade levels and new Essential Standards in all other subject areas (visit http://www.ncpublicschools.org/acre/standards/ for additional information). This is one of the largest curricular changes to ever take place in our state. Chatham County Schools, under the direction of the Instructional Services Division, has been working for the past two years to ensure a smooth transition.