In 2010, more than 40 states adopted the Common Core State Standards. Initially, the standards were quickly and easily embraced, but over the past year the standards have become enmeshed in various controversies, raising many questions about how the standards were written and what they include. This article attempts to provide authoritative answers to those questions. It explains the federal role in the standards writing and adoption, the sources of the standards, and the rationale for developing them. It also explores instructional issues dealing with the role of literature, phonics instruction, text complexity, and student motivation.