High education expectations--and the tools to ensure that they are being met--empower educators, students, parents, and policymakers to support student learning and make the best decisions to improve education. Most states have voluntarily adopted the Common Core State Standards to serve as their education expectations. To consistently and transparently measure the skills and knowledge outlined in the standards, many states have opted to join one of two assessment consortia and use the Common Core-aligned assessments they develop. As states choose to participate in these consortia and implement the new assessments, it is important for everyone with a stake in education to understand how the consortia work, what data the assessments collect, and how student privacy is safeguarded. This document dispels the most common myths with concise talking points and related resources.