The effort to draft common standards was launched in 2009. NGA and CCSSO led the
initiative with the guidance of an advisory group including experts from Achieve, Inc.,
a bipartisan, nonprofit organization that helps states raise academic standards; ACT,
Inc.; the College Board; the National Association of State Boards of Education; and the
State Higher Education Executive Officers Association. The standards development
was privately funded with major support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
and other foundations. No federal dollars or officials were involved.