The same competencies neglected in the implementation of the Common Core are those that ultimately most help students become what the author calls college-ready, career-ready, and contribution-ready. These include communication, meta-cognition, resilient mindset, responsible character, and social-emotional learning, intertwined with academic knowledge. An example of the importance of these areas for successful Common Core implementation is provided in the context of a central Common Core focus: students' deep engagement with text.