TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Kansas is joining dozens of states in an effort to develop common English and math standards for public schools.
Gov. Mark Parkinson and Education Commissioner Alexa Posny have signed an agreement to participate in the Common Core initiative.
That's a program of the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers.
The goal is to draft standards by the end of the year for voluntary adoption by states. Parkinson and Posny say the eventual aim is to develop common standardized tests.
All but four states -- Alaska, Missouri, South Carolina and Texas -- have joined the initiative.
