Nonprofit organization founded by American educator E. D. Hirsch, Jr. to promote the implementation of a nationwide shared academic curriculum for U.S. students.

Founded by University of Virginia professor E. D. Hirsch, Jr. in 1988, the Core Knowledge Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the goal of designing a course of study for U.S. schools that will result in a core of shared knowledge by all students. Hirsch, an English professor, was inspired by the positive response to his 1987 best-seller, Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know, and decided to apply his ideas toward the education of U.S. students. In working toward that goal, he founded the Core Knowledge Foundation to offer publications, workshops, and other resources for schools interested in incorporating the basic knowledge that Hirsch and his followers believe are crucial to success in U.S. society. Under...