Public school students and teachers are busy getting ready for the start of the traditional school year. There are going to be significant changes in every public school in the state.
Dave DeWitt: This is the first year that North Carolina will implement the Common Core curriculum. It's designed to align K-12 lessons with college and work as well as standardize student achievement across the states. North Carolina is one of 48 states that have signed on to the Common Core.
It will focus on two academic areas: math and English language arts. It's a significant overhaul that proponents say will go beyond rote memorization and teach students to apply what they've leaned and put it into context.
Another goal of the Common Core is to help students become more globally competitive. About a million and a half students are expected to start public school in North Carolina in the coming weeks.