The Common Core State Standards and the attendant assessments being developed by state consortia create a tremendous opportunity and simultaneous challenge for state boards of education. Many of the issues apply to all boards, even those in states that have not adopted the standards or assessments. Boards will need to think carefully about the nature of college and career readiness, the nature of sufficient performance to demonstrate readiness, and whether readiness is the same for all students or varies based on student skills in relation to the postsecondary program to which they aspire. This article explores these issues and suggests strategies that will result in the most students being ready for postsecondary educational success.