COLUMBUS -- Ohio school officials say the state will be one of the first to follow strict new national curriculum standards being coordinated among 48 states.

Stan Hefner, associate state schools superintendent, says an effort called Common Core is developing "fewer, clearer and higher" curriculum benchmarks that should help boost student performance.

Hefner told an Ohio Board of Education panel on Monday that the standards also will allow states to share results and teaching tools.

Drafts of Common Core English and math standards are expected to be ready in December, with final versions likely to follow in January. Officials say Ohio has dropped a plan to release its own English and math draft guidelines this month.