By Korey Wilson

HARTFORD — After several months of meetings, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s Common Core Implementation Taskforce has concluded.

On Thursday, Malloy announced the launch of the Connecticut Core initiative, which will provide additional resources for public schools based on the findings of the task force.

As a result of the task force’s report, Malloy announced that $5 million will be spent on training and materials. Another $10 million in the upcoming fiscal budget has been provisioned for technology upgrades to assist in the roll out.

“I’m proud of the path that we have taken in Connecticut,” said Malloy during his speech at Annie Fisher STEM Magnet School in Hartford on Thursday.

“The recommendations of this task force will allow us to take quick and deliberate action to improve support for teachers and ensure that Connecticut students succeed.”

Malloy announced the allocation of $2 million to fund at least 1,000 professional training days for teachers; $1 million in mini-grants for library resources; and $2 million to upgrade curriculum for students with special needs as well as additional training for ESL and special education teachers.

The governor’s capital budget for FY ’15 authorizes an additional $10 million to prioritize school technology upgrades to support transition to the new standards.

The task force also recommended teacher and parent involvement as well as jargon-free language in the Common Core state standards.

The Common Core Implementation Taskforce consisted of 25 school administrators, teachers and parents that met weekly from March to June to identify challenges of the implementation and translate the Common Core State Standards into viable curricula.

Kendall Elementary School Principal Tony Ditrio served on the taskforce.

“We support the implementation of the Common Core State Standards as an important first step toward ensuring the global competitiveness of Connecticut’s children. We’re very pleased to see resources being dedicated to helping districts with the difficult work of implementation,” said Jeffrey Villar, executive director of the Connecticut Council for Education Reform.

“The policies have been written. What matters now is making sure that districts are equipped to meet the new standards with success. Making substantial changes within school districts is hard work, so we’re glad to see the state providing districts with resources and support.”

In recent weeks, the governors of Oklahoma, South Carolina and Louisiana signed bills repealing Common Core implementation.

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