Some educators see the Common Core State Standards as reason for stress, most recognize the positive possibilities associated with them and are willing to make the professional commitment to implementing them so that academic rigor for all students will increase. But business leaders, parents, and the authors of the Common Core are not the only ones who recognize the need for college and career readiness; students want to be prepared too. For students to be willing to put forth the effort it will take to learn at the levels designated by the new educational goals, they must have a general understanding of the standards' purpose and the reasons for mastery. Building understanding among students about the Common Core should begin with a general discussion about the purpose and origin of the standards. Students should know that the Common Core is the result of a cooperative effort between government and business to be competitive within an international workforce.