Standard Algorithms in the Common Core State Standards

In a recent issue of the Journal for Mathematics Education Leadership comparing many state standards to the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSS-M), Reys and Thomas (2011) noted the following “[The] specific statement of the culminating standard for each operation in CCSS-M includes the expectation of use of ‘the standard algorithm.’ … However, a definition for ‘the standard algorithm’ is not offered. If the authors of CCSS-M had a particular standard algorithm in mind, it was not made explicit nor is an argument offered for why a particular (standard) algorithm is expected.” (p.26)