Business leaders in Arizona are strongly backing the state’s transition to the Common Core standards – a multi-state effort in math and English that supporters say will teach students to think, rather than memorize facts.

Teaching Arizona’s students is a challenge at every grade level, but perhaps especially so in the nation’s largest community college system. Of recent high school graduates coming into the Maricopa Community Colleges, 40 percent can’t read at a college level, and 30 percent can’t write at a college level.

Arizona high school graduation rates have inched up in the past few years, though federal data show the state still ranks right near the national average.

Governor Jan Brewer’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year includes new money for Child Protective Services, Medicaid expansion and implementing new education standards.

Arizona business leaders told members of the state House of Representatives Wednesday that the new Common Core standards for K-12 schools will help companies fill available jobs.