Does Common Core Match NCTM Standards?

As a sixth grade math teacher who relies heavily on NCTM standards and lessons, I wanted to see how much Common Core State Standards aligned with NCTM's Principles and Standards for School Mathematics. The comparison is not as easy to make, because the CCSS are not divided between the same strands as NCTM. NCTM divides their content between between 5 content standards: Number & Operations, Algebra, Geometry, Measurement, and Data Analysis & Probability. CCSS content is divided between Ratio & Proportional Relationships, The Number System, Expressions & Equations, Geometry, and Statistics and Probability. This leads to some deficiencies and confusion.

For example, standards from the measurement strand for NCTM have been placed in other strands or deleted altogether in CCSS because there is no measurement strand in CCSS. Standards covered under Measurement for NCTM include conversions between metric and customary systems, area, perimeter, surface area and volume, formulas for finding areas of geometric shapes, and using scales to develop ratios and proportions. In CCSS, converting measurements is covered under the Ratio & Proportional Relationships Strand number 3,  Use ratio and rate reasoning to solve real-world and mathematical problems.  Area and volume are covered under the Geometry strand in CCSS.

However, the data Analysis and Probability strand in NCTM is fairly close to the Statistics and Probabilty srand of the CCSS. NCTM's standards are designed around collecting data and describing it as well as discussing probabilty of events. CCSS discuss the same items, yet it seems to be a bit more vague. NCTM provideds specific content to teach (ie. - formulate questions, design studies, and collect data about a characteristic shared by two populations or different characteristics within one population). Compared with the standard in CCSS (recognize a statistical question as one that anticipates variability in the data related to the question and accounts for it in the answers), teacher will find that the NCTM standards are more specific and easier to follow. CCSS is too vague leaving room for error.

Overall, within the middle grades, I would say that because the CCSS are more vaguely written than the NCTM standards, many of NCTM standards can fit within the CCSS, just under a different strand than the strands all educators are used to.