The purpose of this project is to understand the implications to the evaluation field of the new core standards to students’ critical thinking skills at the elementary level (grades 1-4). Presentation Abstract: Results from the Illinois Common Core Assessment-ICCA aim to evaluate students’ learning progression regarding concepts and application by grade level. However, understanding students’ learning progression in terms of critical thinking-CT-skills will provide a holistic perspective of students’ ability to transfer knowledge. The purpose of this project is to understand the implications to the evaluation field of the new core standards to students’ critical thinking skills at the elementary level (grades 1-4). After cross-referencing the ICCA for elementary math with the Survey of Enacted Curriculum students’ cognitive expectations, the results indicated that few standards aim for higher thinking skills. Proposed summative and interim assessments desire to produce timely information and interventions. However, the evaluation model does not asses students’ development of CT skills and teachers’ application of higher level cognitive classroom activities. Therefore, it remains to be determined the level of CT skills the students will gain under the new standards.#2012Conference #Prek-12EducationalEvaluation #AssessmentinHigherEducation