As the United States has struggled to answer the question of what education for the 21st century must look like, most states have now responded by signing onto the Common Core Standards. Drawn from lessons learned from a generation of standards-based education and research on what high-performing countries do to enable young people to prosper, it is offered as perhaps the best hope of helping American students attain the knowledge and skills necessary for a productive, contributing life. Many observers believe that the Common Core Standards represent a seminal moment in American educational history because they are the result of governors and state superintendents coming together to settle the question on the best path forward to strengthen both student success and national security. This article discusses the 21st Century Global Skills, which are at the heart of the Common Core, are an upgrade, and reflect a move toward the teaching and learning strategies necessary to reach today's students. The intent is that the standards will inspire local curriculum frameworks that provide the knowledge and skills necessary for young people to be successful in college, careers, and life. Three ways to strengthen the Common Core and strategies for schools to move forward are also suggested.