Nick (MV Voice), I wouldn't exactly characterize this as "the federal curriculum". It did not come from the US federal Department of Education, but rather from a national association of state governments. You may blame (or praise) the Governors and the chief education officers of 48 states and a bunch of territories if you don't like these standards [what, don't force all 8th graders to take Algebra???]

These standards seem to address English and Math. My reading of the English standards did not find quite as much of the "technical" literature emphasis as I would have liked. It seemed more of the same system we have now (reading in the content standards) but with at least lip service to the need to read newspapers and technical* or business materials.

Note: Alaska is not 'part of the contiguous states' and of course did not participate in any of this effort.

* There was a beautiful elective science reading course offered at Graham Middle school a few years back. Kids who loved to read and liked science got to read Darwin's "The Voyage of the Beagle" (one of the most-read and influential nature-travel commentaries of the 1800's).