WASHINGTON — Higher-education leaders in 33 states announced on Tuesday the formation of a coalition in support of Common Core education standards rolling out in most states.
The more than 200 college presidents and higher-education leaders say the K-12 standards represent a significant improvement over most states’ standards. They say they are needed to tackle the high rate of students needing remedial help in college, and that the higher-education community has a ‘‘clear and compelling’’ stake in the debate.
‘‘These standards are good for our students, our states, and our country,’’ said Nancy Zimpher, chancellor of the State University of New York. ‘‘We must have students that are college- and career-ready in order for the United States to continue to compete and win in the 21st century global economy.’’
Zimpher, in a statement, said the formation of the coalition is a call to action and she urged all colleagues in higher education to ‘‘stand up and make their voices heard on Common Core.’’
The standards spell out what math and English skills students should master at each grade. They have faced pushback. Governors in Indiana, South Carolina, and Oklahoma have signed legislation to repeal them.