Foundation Levels

You may be wondering why the Common Core Reading Standards Foundation Skills (K-5) are featured separately in the ELA Common Core Standards. To understand why, it is helpful to know that the Common Core Foundational Skills do not include comprehension and vocabulary. Rather, they focus on: 

1. Print Concepts 
2. Phonological Awareness
3. Phonics
4. Word Recognition 

That is because comprehension and vocabulary are the central focus of the College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards. From kindergarten through twelfth grade comprehension and vocabulary are integrated across the four major strands of Reading, Writing, Speak & Listening, and Language.  Acquiring comprehension and vocabulary are a 13 year process in the Common Core with one academic year building on the next, until students are college and career ready.  

Location of Foundation Levels

Main document of CCSS pages 15-17 grades K-5

Appendix A 17-22 grades K-5