“These standards were designed by educators and are supported by all of us here today, because of the promise they offer for all of our children.” — Dr. Joseph Cirasuolo, executive director of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents
“The one thing that we know in education is we are not succeeding with enough of our students, particularly in urban environments. The Common Core is an important part of preparing our students for lifelong success,” said New Haven Superintendent of Schools Garth Harries. “And by having fewer, but clearer and higher standards, teachers can go deeper with their lessons and do what they do best — make learning come to life for kids. Any roll-back of Common Core is a step back for our kids.”
The Common Core State Standards were adopted unanimously by the Connecticut State Board of Education on July 7, 2010. Connecticut is one of 45 states that have voluntarily adopted the standards, which were developed by The Council of Chief State School Officers in consultation with educators, unions and other stakeholders.
Now, schools across Connecticut are implementing these standards by selecting curriculum, training teachers and administrators, and talking to parents about what the new standards mean. This year, most districts will also start to administer new tests aligned with these standards, and all districts will administer the new tests in 2015.
“The Common Core State Standards offer clear and consistent college- and career-ready standards to ensure that students have the skills and knowledge needed to be successful,” said Ellington Superintendent of Schools Steve Cullinan. “Considering the excellent work that has been accomplished to transition to these standards it would not be in the best interest of the students and staff of the Ellington Public Schools to interrupt or halt that process.”
“A moratorium would be regressive and given the tremendous amount of work being done by districts to make instructional shifts to the standards so all children receive a quality and rigorous education, any notion to abandon the Common Core Standards is truly ill conceived and misguided,” said Branford Superintendent of Schools Hamlet Hernandez.
Surveys show that teachers in Connecticut and across the nation support the Common Core State Standards:
- A recent Harrison Group survey of 279 Connecticut teachers found that nearly three in four (73 percent) English language arts, science, and/or social studies teachers in Connecticut are enthusiastic about the implementation of the Common Core State Standards in their classroom.
- A survey of almost 1,500 Connecticut Education Association members conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner research showed that 64 percent of Connecticut teachers support the Common Core, nearly half of those teachers responding that the standards will “help students develop critical thinking and problem solving skills.”
- Results from a 2013 survey conducted by the National Education Association showed that three out of every four teachers are in favor of the Common Core State Standards.
Click here for a myths and facts sheet on the Common Core State Standards.
“There is wide support among educators for the Common Core Standards. To ignore that support and the hard work of teachers and school leaders across Connecticut would be extraordinarily detrimental to our students and educators,” said Dr. Joseph Cirasuolo, executive director of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS). “These standards were designed by educators and are supported by all of us here today, because of the promise they offer for all of our children. We cannot let misinformation and political maneuvering prevent us from providing Connecticut’s kids the tools they need to succeed in college and in careers.”
