States, districts, and schools must work to develop effective implementation and communications plans around the Common Core State Standards and aligned assessments. The Education Trust commissioned research on the communication of changes to state assessments in the recent past and lessons learned from that effort identify key elements of an effective and strategic communication plan and many replicable strategies to support a smooth transition to the new assessments. They include: Take a big-tent approach--include all stakeholders from the beginning and develop genuine relationships; be sure to talk and listen; focus on internal communications and consider everyone a messenger; and don't reinvent the wheel--and using existing communications methods and structures.