HELENA - The governor and the state schools superintendent say Montana will join a coalition of states seeking common standards.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer and Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau both say the National Common Core State Standards Initiative will improve curriculum.

It is a state-led process to develop common English-language arts and mathematics standards.

Schweitzer and Juneau says the result will better help Montana students compete.

The task force expects to have common core state standards developed later this year.